Assessment of Measles Surveillance in Iran during 2004-2007

Abstract

Elimination of measles using vaccination is one of the most important task worldwide. Iran is in the elimination phase of measles and health professionals base surveillance system on reporting of suspected cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate measles surveillance in center of Iran. The epidemiological data was collected from immediate telephone reports and follow up results in CDC of deputy of health in Isfahan medical sciences university. 59 suspected cases were reported and only measles in one 2 years Afghanian girl had been confirmed. The incidence rate of suspected cases was 18 per one million under risk population. The average age of cases was 8±8.3 years that varied from 1 to 34 years. Male was more than female and 13.6% of cases were immigrant. One third of patients did not have any previous vaccination. The mean age was different significantly in three years of assessment. Our finding demonstrated that the measles surveillance is effective in Iran and endemic measles have been eliminated in Iran. The measles cases are immigrant from neighbor countries.