3c.2 How common was measles before routine vaccination, and how common is it now?
Description
This article is from the Childhood Vaccinations FAQ, by Lynn Gazis-Sax lynng@alsirat.com with numerous contributions by others.
3c.2 How common was measles before routine vaccination, and how common is it now?
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From Anthony C.:
I havent finished reading this thread so pardon if someone else has
already posted this information
Rates of complications of measles and measles immunization
Measles per 10^5 Vaccine per 10^5
Encephalomylelitis 50-400 .1
sspe .5-2.0 .05-.1
Pneumonia 3800-1000
Seizures 500-1000 .02-19
Deaths 10-10000 .01
These statistics are worldwide, hence the variablility in numbers. The
higher rates of pneumonia and death represent figures collected from
India, Nambia, Nigeria, bangladesh and other countries with developing
health care industries.
As far as the number of people afflicted with measles in the US
Cases Deaths
1963 385,566 364 Inactivated measles type vaccine available
1964 458,093 421
1966 204,136 261 public health administration of vaccine
1967 62,705 81
1968 22,231 24
.
.hovers around 20-70,000
.
1977 57,345 15
1978 26,871 11
1979 13,597 6
1980 13,506 11
1981 3,032 2
1982 1,697 2
1983 1,497 4
1984 2,587 1
1985 2,822 4
1986 6,273 2
1987 3,588 2
1988 2,933 not available
1989 16,236 41
1990 26,520 97
Major foci of retransmission barring the complete elimination of measles:
1) unimmunized indigent, inner city youngsters.
2) illegal aliens.
I hope this is useful. My source is Zinsser microbiology, 20th edition
pages 1013-1015, joklik et al.
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As the above table shows, there was a marked increase in measles
incidence in the US from 1989 to 1991. This resulted in more than
50,000 cases including 125 deaths
(http://www.immunize.org/nslt.d/n21/paradx21.htm). Measles has been on
the decline again in the US since 1990 (MMWR Feb 4, 1994,
p. 57). Colleges enforcing the requirement for a second measles
vaccine report fewer measles outbreaks than schools with no
requirement (JAMA, Oct 12, 1994, p. 1127). (Both of these citations
from Journal Watch for Jan 15, 1995 - paper edition, or Feb 7, 1995 -
electronic edition.) During 1998, a provisional total of 100 measles
cases was reported to the CDC, making for a record low, 28% lower than
the 138 cases reported in 1997 (MMWR 48(34);749-753, 1999. Centers for
Disease Control).
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