OBJECTIVETo understand the risk factors of measles among babies under 8-months-old and people ≥15 years old, in Gansu province.

METHODSLaboratory-confirmed measles cases were divided into two groups among children below 8-months-old and those ≥15 year olds. Descriptive epidemiology and 1:3 case control study were conducted to find out those related risk factors as:hospital exposure, contact with measles cases, vaccination, history of measles etc. so as to determine the risk factors and appropriate control measures.

RESULTSHistories of hospital exposure, contact with measles cases and travelling to other cities were risk factors for measles among babies younger than 8-months and people ≥15 year olds. Vaccination appeared a protective factor for people ≥15 years of age. From 42 cases and 126 controls, through multivariate analysis, results showed that hospital exposure was the only significant factor ( OR = 29.23, 95%CI:2.82-302.89)for those babies younger than 8-months. Factors as hospital exposure and travelling among cities for 7-21 days before being infected, were with significant importance ( OR = 5.15, 95% CI:2.28-11.63; OR = 5.48, 95%CI:1.38-21.69)for people ≥15 years of age, according to the observation from 74 cases and 222 controls.

CONCLUSIONIn order to reduce the incidence of measles among babies under 8-month-old and people ≥15 years old, efforts on control of nosocomial infection should be strengthened, while the routine immunization coverage need to be increased for the children at higher risks, to reduce the source of infection.

Adolescent ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross Infection ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Measles ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Measles Vaccine ; administration & dosage ; Risk Factors ; Vaccination ; utilization

We describe the global status of measles control and elimination, including surveillance and vaccination coverage data provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). Since 2000, two doses of measles vaccine (MCV2) became recommended globally and the achievement of high vaccination coverage has led to dramatic decrease in the measles incidence. Our finding indicates that, in the Western Pacific Region (WPR), substantial progress has been made to control measles transmission in some countries; however, the measles virus continues to circulate, causing outbreaks. The Republic of Korea (ROK) experienced a series of resurgence of measles due to the importation and healthcare-associated transmission in infants, however overall incidence and surveillance indicators met the WHO criteria for measles elimination. The ROK was verified to be measles-free along with Australia, Mongolia, and Macau, China in 2014. One of the effective elimination activities was the establishment of solid keep-up vaccination system in school settings. The lessons learnt from the measles elimination activities in Korea may contribute to enhancing the surveillance schemes and strengthening of vaccination programs in member countries and areas of WPR.
Disease Eradication/methods/*organization & administration ; Government Programs/organization & administration ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mass Vaccination/*organization & administration ; Measles/diagnosis/*epidemiology/*prevention & control ; Measles Vaccine/*administration & dosage ; Pacific Ocean ; Population Surveillance/*methods ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; School Health Services/organization & administration ; Treatment Outcome