Defining and assessing measles elimination goals

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Infectious Disease Control

Background:

• Measles elimination targets are established in 3 of 6 World Health Organization regions, but goals lack precise definition.
• Achieving and sustaining zero measles incidence is difficult due to the virus's high contagiousness and the persistent risk of imported cases.
• The United States defines measles elimination programmatically as the absence of endemic measles, specifically no indigenous transmission chains lasting one year or more.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document the absence of endemic measles in the United States.
• To evaluate the epidemiology, genotype distribution, population immunity, and surveillance adequacy for measles in the U.S.
• To determine if the U.S. has met its measles elimination programmatic goal.

Main Methods:

• Compilation of data on measles epidemiology, including genotype distribution.
• Assessment of population immunity levels against measles.
• Evaluation of the adequacy of the measles surveillance system in the United States.
• Convening a panel of experts in March 2000 to review compiled data.

Main Results:

• Data on measles epidemiology, genotype distribution, population immunity, and surveillance adequacy were compiled.
• A panel of experts reviewed the data in March 2000.
• The expert panel concluded that measles is no longer endemic in the United States.

Conclusions:

• The United States has successfully achieved its programmatic goal for measles elimination.
• The absence of endemic measles transmission has been documented through comprehensive data review and expert consensus.
• Continued robust surveillance is essential to maintain measles elimination status and prevent re-establishment of endemic transmission.