The epidemiology of measles in the Philippines based on the antibody profile in rural and urban areas

A total of 322 satisfactory blood sera, obtained from individuals with ages ranging from 5 months to 4 years in rural and urban areas, were serologically tested with hemagglutination-inhibition technique. Results showed that 25 percent and 50 percent of the infants (2 yrs and below) in rural and urban, respectively, contracted the disease and doubled at preschool ages when malnutrition was highest in the country. At school age, 69 percent and 76 percent of the children in rural and urban areas contracted the disease while 95-100 showed immunity at adolescence (13-17) in both areas.(Author)