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Progress toward measles elimination in Romania after a mass vaccination campaign and implementation of enhanced

Adriana Pistol1, Karen Hennessey, Daniela Pitigoi

  • 1General Department of Public Health, National Immunization Program, Ministry of Health, Bucharest, Romania.

The Journal of Infectious Diseases
|May 2, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Romania

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • Romania experienced a significant measles outbreak (1996-1998) with over 33,000 cases.
  • A predicted outbreak in 2002 necessitated urgent public health intervention.
  • Measles control and prevention are critical global health priorities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of Romania's 1998 measles-rubella vaccination campaign.
  • To assess the impact of the campaign on measles transmission and population immunity.
  • To determine the feasibility of interrupting indigenous measles virus transmission in Romania.

Main Methods:

  • Nationwide measles-rubella vaccination campaign targeting 2.1 million children (aged 7-18 years) in October 1998.
  • Utilized national surveillance data to monitor reported measles cases post-campaign.
  • Conducted seroprevalence studies in three districts to measure measles antibody levels before and after vaccination.

Main Results:

  • A dramatic reduction in reported measles cases was observed following the campaign.
  • From October 1999 to December 2001, only 400 suspected cases were reported, a significant decrease from previous years.
  • High measles antibody levels were maintained in the population (92.9% pre-campaign, 94.4% post-campaign).

Conclusions:

  • The measles-rubella vaccination campaign significantly reduced measles incidence in Romania.
  • Sustained high population immunity suggests successful interruption of measles transmission is achievable.
  • Enhanced surveillance and continued vaccination efforts are crucial for maintaining measles-free status.

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