Survey on the Epidemiological Characteristics of Measles Incidence between 1980 and 1999 Year in Korea / 감염

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study reports the incidences of measles in Koea and the epidemiologic characteristics for the incidence reported for the period 1980~1999. It provides the epidemeologic adta for measles before implementing the catch-up campaign in 2001. METHODS: We obtained information for the survey from the data for the incidence reported from health centers. Incidences per 100,000 population were calculated for the 1963~1999. And the following variables were studied: seasonal or regional distribution for the 1980~1999. RESULTS: The incidence rate of measles declined after the systemic immunization in 1990, the outbreak of measles occurred periodically and incidences per 100,000 population increased from 8.4 cases in 1990 to 17.7 in 1994. In 1990 and 1994, measles cases centered around the 5~6th month. On the other hand, in non-epidemic year measles cases were scattered around the year. The incidence rates of measles by the province were greatly defferent whenever the outbreak of measles occurred. CONCLUSION: In 1990s, the outbreak of measles occurred periodically at the interval of 4 years until 1994. The seasonal distribution may be caused by Iimitation of transmission due to the increased measles immunity in outbreak region. Our results showed that the measles outbreak did not occur in the specific province, but it occurred nationwide whenever measles outbreak occurred, even though the incidence rates of the provinces were different.