Vaccine effect on the trend of measles morbidity and mortality in Egypt [1960-1985]

ABSTRACT

Since the measles vaccination program began in 1976, measles reported data for Egypt, 1960 - 1985, were analyzed to reveal trends in measles occurrence, age pattern, seasonal variation and mortality pattern. Data analysis revealed a reduction in the annual average reported cases in Egypt by about 57% after introduction of compulsory vaccination. The impact of vaccination was more evident in the urban than rural areas as the reduction was 64% in urban compared with only 3.5% in the rural Egypt. The mean age of notified measles cases has risen from 3.5 years to approximately 5 years of age over the 9 years since the program began. The mean seasonal index of measles calculated in the pre- and post-vaccination period revealed 8 weeks shift for the maximum seasonal index of measles morbidity. Data analysis showed marked reduction in the reported measles deaths and the case fatality rate after introduction of compulsory vaccination in 1976