[Progress of speeding up measles control strategies in Anhui].

OBJECTIVE

To speed up measles control program.

METHODS

Catching-up immunization campaigns on measles have been conducted among the children aged 1-6 years in three prefectures of Anhui by the end of 1997 and the measles surveillance system was established at the beginning of 1998. IgM antibody of measles and rubella was tested with ELISA and IgG antibody was examined with HI test.

RESULTS

The positive rate of measles antibody among children was 100%, GMT increased from 1:18.97 to 1:43.45 after the campaigns. Measles cases in the three districts from January to June 1998 had a 87.71% decrease, comparing with the same period of 1997 with measles outbreak avoided. There were 105(58.01%) cases of measles with positive IgM and 32(17.68%) cases of rubella with positive IgM out of 181 testees having fever and rash illnesses.

CONCLUSION

Results indicated the programs as catching-up immunization campaigns on measles and keeping high level of MV immunization, establishing measles surveillance system with improvement of its sensibility together with rubella control program all seemed to be important strategies in speeding up the positive outcome of measles control.