Measles: current situation in the Community of Madrid

Objective: Description of the epidemiological situation of measles in the Community of Madrid and its adequation to the European strategies for the elimination of the disease. Method: Analysis of the data coming from EDO (obligatory declaration diseases) system, Sentinel Surveillance Network and II and III serologic survey. Results: In the first eleven months of 2001 were studied 26 suspected cases of measles, 10 of them were confirmed and 5 were assessed as probable: 9 of the confirmed cases had 19 to 28 years of age and 2 of them were imported cases. Vaccination coverture is 95,8% for the first dose of MMR and 79,3% for the second. The prevalence of protective antibodies is close to 100% after the second dose. The genotype of the cultures of measles is the same as in the rest of Europe. Conclusion: The found data stresses the importance of holding and improving in some aspects the surveillance and control strategies of measles with the aim of eliminate the disease by 2005.