[Measles elimination programme on the world and Poland].

Measles is still one of the leading causes of children mortality, despite of availability of a cheap, effective and safe vaccine for more than 40 years. Effective global eradication of smallpox and the success of polio eradication have provided an incentive to achieve the measles eradication all over the world. Elimination is achieved when no endemic measles cases has been observed in given area. This study analyzes epidemiological situation of measles, measles vaccination and laboratory diagnosis. In this report we describe the role of Global Measles Laboratory Network and integrated measles/rubella surveillance. The National Laboratory in Poland is based at the Department of Virology in National Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw. Following the implementation of 2-dose measles vaccine schedule the epidemiologic situation of measles has improved. In 2006 results of genotyping indicate that recent outbreaks were caused by local strains of the virus (D4 and D5).