Four months since reports of D9 virus in Western Hemisphere.(measles virus outbreak)

2003 APR 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The countries of the Americas have not reported new cases of transmission of the d9 measles virus, the strain responsible for the only large outbreak of measles in the region during 2002, for more than 4 months, according to Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) experts.

In 1994, the Americas set the goal of interrupting indigenous measles transmission, and the regional plan of action for achieving this goal was begun in 1996.

Progress toward eradicating measles in the Americas reflects sustained high political commitment by member countries and full implementation of PAHO's recommended measles-control strategies, and demonstrates that global measles eradication is achievable. However, important challenges remain. Measles is still endemic in other regions, and sporadic cases continue to occur in the Region of the Americas because of importation.

The majority of countries in the Region have not achieved and sustained routine measles vaccination coverage rates of 95% or more in all municipalities. Because poor, underserved neighborhoods in large cities that attract migrants of rural origin are particularly at risk for measles outbreaks when the virus is reintroduced, people living in these areas are targeted for supplementary vaccination activities.

The measles vaccination strategy recommended by PAHO includes a one-time, national "catch-up" campaign for all children aged 1-14 years, routine "keep-up" vaccination for infants aged 1 year, and national "follow-up" campaigns every 3-4 years for all children aged 1-4 years, regardless of measles vaccination history. Other key components of the strategy include rapid house-to-house monitoring for local validation of vaccination activities and active epidemiologic and virologic surveillance.