title: Stability of the age distribution of measles cases over time during outbreaks in Bangladesh, 2004-2006.
abstract: Despite recommendations from WHO to conduct measles outbreak response vaccination campaigns based on the age distribution of cases at the beginning of an outbreak, few data exist to specifically examine whether the age distribution of cases remains constant over time in a measles outbreak. This analysis explores this question with use of measles outbreak surveillance data from Bangladesh from the period 2004-2006. Pearson χ(2) tests were conducted of age distributions over 2 periods during 41 large laboratory-confirmed measles outbreaks. Statistically significant changes in age distribution over time were observed in 24% of the outbreaks. No single pattern was detected in the shifts in age distribution; however, an increase in the proportion of cases occurring among infants <9 months of age was evident in 6 outbreaks. These findings suggest a need to consider the possibility of a shift in the age distribution over time when planning an outbreak response vaccination campaign.
authors.affiliation: Global Immunization Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. ewiesen@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wiesen
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wannemuehler
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Goodson
authors.forename: Abhijeet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anand
authors.forename: Ondrej
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mach
authors.forename: Arun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thapa
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Jayantha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Linayage
authors.forename: Serguei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Diorditsa
authors.forename: A S M Mainul
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Hasan
authors.forename: Sharif
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uzzaman
authors.forename: M D Abdul
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Jalil Mondal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011159:Population Surveillance; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008458:Measles Vaccine