[Measles in Poland in 1999]. / Odra w 1999 roku.

As it is typical for the year after epidemic, in 1999, the number of new cases of measles decreased and incidence was 0.3 per 100,000. No cases of measles were reported in five out of 16 newly formed voivodeships. The highest incidence was in voivodeships dolnoslaskie and malopolskie (0.5 per 100,000). Regarding age groups it was highest among 5 years old--2.3 per 100,000 and among 13-24 months old--2.0 per 100,000. Cases of older children reflect delay in vaccination. For another consecutive year the fraction of cases confirmed serologically (assay for IgM) was insufficient (15.2%) and it requires further improvement.

[Infectious diseases in Poland in 1998]. / Choroby zakazne w Polsce w 1998 roku.

Epidemiological situation of majority of infectious diseases in Poland was in 1998 consecutively improved. Decrease of incidence of infectious hepatitis type A and B was noted as well as of tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases. Percentage of deaths caused by infectious diseases decreased to 0.6%. Sustaining of such positive trends will require first of all continuation of preventive immunizations at present level, improvement of laboratory diagnoses, but also an improvement of identification of diseased and infected peoples and also notification of cases.

[Measles in 1998]. / Odra w 1998 roku.

Following 7 years of continuous decline of measles incidence numbers, in 1998 compensatory epidemic occurred. Incidence increased six times in comparison with 1997, to 5.8 per 100,000. Epidemic was caused mostly by cases among teenagers of 15 and more years old. Those cases made 60% of the total. Epidemic was limited mostly to the region of southern and southwestern voivodeships. At the time of epidemic surveillance was enhanced, but still fraction of cases confirmed serologically (assay for IgM) was insufficient and it requires further improvement.

[Demographic condition of Poland in years 1950-1998 and prognosis of its development up to the year 2050]. / Sytuacja demograficzna Polski w latach 1950-1998 i prognoza jej rozwoju do 2050 roku.

Proper evaluation of epidemiology data for a country requires knowledge of its demographic background. The most relevant data related to demographic structure and migration in 1950-1998 were chosen as a reference for epidemiological analysis. The review includes demographic prognoses developed in authors program of employees of Glówny Urzad Statystyczny (National Office for Statistics) in Poland.

[Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) in Poland in 1996-1999. Phase VII of epidemiologic studies]. / Podostre stwardniajace zapalenie mózgu (SSPE) w Polsce w latach 1996-1999. VII etap badan epidemiologicznych.

In the seventh phase of epidemiological studies of SSPE data were gathered on patients who developed the disease in 1996-1999. In this time period the diagnosis was confirmed in only 10 cases (4 in 1996, 4 in 1997, 0 in 1998 and 2 in 1999). This is a significant reduction of incidence in relation to the preceding stages, in particular to the years 1993-1995 in which 49 new cases were still reported. This is not ruling out the possibility that at the beginning of the years 2,000 cases would be diagnosed in which the first symptoms developed several or more months earlier.

[Prospects of measles and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) elimination in Poland]. / Perspektywy eliminacji odry i podostrego stwardniajacego zapalenia mózgu (SSPE) w Polsce.

Following the introduction of vaccinations against measles in 1975 supplemented in recent years with booster vaccinations at the age of 6 years the epidemiological situation with respect to measles and SSPE has been gradually improving, particularly recently. In the paper discussion is presented on the question in what degree the present epidemiological situation of measles, the epidemiological supervision and vaccinations against measles in Poland meet the operative aim of measles and, consequently, SSPE elimination, as recommended by the WHO Regional Bureau. Attention is called to incomplete reliability of measles diagnosis based on clinical manifestations, economic difficulties in conducting serological investigations (detection of IgM antibodies to measles) necessary for measles confirmation, and shortcomings in vaccination organization.

[Measles in 1997]. / Odra w 1997 roku.

Since 1990, the decrease of measles morbidity rates and the increase of the areas with limited measles transmission are observed in Poland. In 1997, 338 measles cases was reported, the lowest number of measles cases ever reported. This represents 47% decrease from the number of measles cases (639) reported in 1996. The increase of the number of measles incidence during last two month of 1997 may forecast epidemic 1998 year. The laboratory confirmation of suspected measles, especially sporadic cases should be implemented in all voivodeships in Poland.

[Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) in Poland in the years 1993-1995. The sixth stage of epidemiological research]. / Podostre stwardniajace zapalenie mózgu (SSPE) w Polsce w latach 1993-1995. VI etap badan epidemiologicznych.

Data was collected about 49 newly diagnosed cases of SSPE in the years 1993-1995 in Poland. In the analyzed period of time a falling of tendency the incidence of SSPE was maintained. Overall incidence--0.42 per million population, was lower than the incidence in years 1990-1992, when it was 0.72. The tendency of a shift towards older age group was maintained--the peak incidence was observed among 19 year olds, as opposed to 15 year olds in the previous analyzed time period. The authors explain the dropping SSPE incidence in Poland with a drop in measales incidence, which is a consequence of growing measles vaccine coverage rates. The influence of a big measles epidemic which occurred in 1989-1990 on a potential rise in number of SSPE cases has not been noted, but further observations are needed.

[Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis in Poland in the years 1990-1993. Stage V of epidemiologic studies]. / Podostre stwardniajace zapalenie mózgu (SSPE) w Polsce w latach 1990-1993. V etap badan epidemiologicznych.

The authors summarize the results of the fifth stage of epidemiological investigation on SSPE. The first stage covered the years 1971-1976, the next stages covered the periods: 1977-1983; 1984-1986; 1987-1989. In the period 1990-1993 data on 95 patients with SSPE were obtained. Morbidity rates continued to show a decreasing tendency (from 0.8 to 0.6 per 1,000,000 population) in the years 1990-1993, being lower the median morbidity (amounting to 0.98) in 1985-1989. Morbidity rates continued to shift towards older age groups: while the peak morbidity (25.7%) in the years 1990-1992 was noted in the 14-15 age range, in 1993 the peak (28.6%) was found in the age group of 16 to 19 years.

[Evaluation of changes in the epidemiological situation of SSPE in Poland in the years 1977-1991 (in the course of 15 years after the introduction of mandatory antimeasles vaccination)]. / Ocena zmian w sytuacji epidemiologicznej SSPE w Polsce w latach 1977-1991 (tj. w okresie 15 lat po wprowadzeniu obowiazkowych szczepien przeciwodrowych).

The authors present the results of an epidemiological study of SSPE in Poland conducted since 15 years. Since the years covered by the study (1977-1991) included the first period after the introduction of obligatory vaccinations against measles in our country, the most important aim of this analysis was to find out the possible influence of the effect of these vaccinations on SSPE incidence. A comparison of the data obtained in successive stages of the study shows that a slow gradual decrease of the annual incidence of SSPE has been taking place in our country (from at least 1.6 per million before 1983 to 0.69 in 1991). The effect of the vaccinations is visible also in a significant increase of the mean age of SSPE onset which is a result of ever more widespread vaccination of the youngest children. These observations indicate unequivocally that the aetiological factor in SSPE is a wild strain of measles virus and not that used for vaccinations.

[Analysis of the correlation between measles and subacute sclerosis panencephalitis (SSPE) before and after introduction of vaccination in Poland]. / Analiza wspólzaleznosci pomiedzy odra a podostrym stwardniajacym zapaleniem mózgu (SSPE) przed i po wprowadzeniu szczepien ochronnych w polsce.

Number of SSPE cases were analysed depending on epidemiologic situation of measles in Poland. Statistic analysis exhibit significant correlation between measles incidence in first year of live and total number of SSPE cases born in the same years. Problems antimeasles vaccination for eradication measles and SSPE were discussed based on the correlation.