Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 24, 2026

Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo
12:42

Paramyxoviruses for Tumor-targeted Immunomodulation: Design and Evaluation Ex Vivo

Published on: January 7, 2019

Epidemiology of measles in the United States, 1997-2001

Mark J Papania1, Jane F Seward, Susan B Redd

  • 1National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. mpapania@cdc.gov.

The Journal of Infectious Diseases
|April 24, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Measles importation drove most US cases from 1997-2001. Analysis of "unknown-source" cases revealed no sustained endemic measles transmission, indicating strong disease control.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Infectious Disease Control
  • Public Health Surveillance

Background:

  • Measles (Morbillivirus) poses a significant public health threat globally.
  • Maintaining measles elimination requires robust surveillance to detect and respond to imported cases and potential endemic transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the extent of endemic measles transmission in the United States between 1997 and 2001.
  • To analyze the characteristics of measles cases with unknown sources of infection.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of reported measles cases in the US from 1997-2001.
  • Categorization of cases based on importation, epidemiological linkage, or unknown source.
  • Geographic and temporal analysis of unknown-source measles cases.

Main Results:

  • Of 540 measles cases, 67% were linked to international importation.
  • 178 cases (33%) had unknown sources, reported sporadically across 83 counties in 27 states.
  • The largest unknown-source outbreak involved 13 cases over 5 weeks, indicating limited local spread.

Conclusions:

  • The rarity, geographic dispersion, and short duration of unknown-source cases suggest measles was not sustained endemically in the US during 1997-2001.
  • Continued vigilance for imported measles and prompt response are crucial for maintaining elimination status.

More Related Videos

Developing a Salivary Antibody Multiplex Immunoassay to Measure Human Exposure to Environmental Pathogens09:08

Developing a Salivary Antibody Multiplex Immunoassay to Measure Human Exposure to Environmental Pathogens

Published on: September 12, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Vaccinations01:51

Vaccinations

Overview
Smallpox01:24

Smallpox

Smallpox is a severe contagious disease caused by the Variola major virus, a double-stranded DNA member of the Poxviridae family.Variola major transmission occurs primarily via inhalation of virus-laden droplets or direct contact with infectious scabs. The incubation period averages approximately seven days, although it may range from 7 to 17 days depending on the inoculum and host factors.Clinically, the prodromal phase is marked by an abrupt onset of high fever, malaise, headache, and myalgia.
Investigation of Disease Outbreaks01:23

Investigation of Disease Outbreaks

Multistate foodborne outbreaks pose significant public health risks and require meticulous investigation to identify sources and implement control measures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) utilizes a dynamic seven-step process for these investigations, integrating data from laboratories, interviews, and environmental assessments to protect public health.Outbreak Detection: The detection of multistate outbreaks typically begins with PulseNet, the CDC's national laboratory...
Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence01:28

Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence

Infectious diseases appear in populations through various transmission patterns, influenced by pathogen characteristics, population immunity, environmental conditions, and social behavior. Understanding these patterns is essential for effective public health surveillance and intervention. These categories—sporadic, outbreak, epidemic, pandemic, and endemic—help frame the nature and scope of disease events.Sporadic diseases occur irregularly and infrequently, without a predictable temporal or...
Chickenpox01:20

Chickenpox

Chickenpox is an acute, highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Herpesviridae family. Its transmission occurs primarily through the inhalation of respiratory droplets or direct contact with vesicular fluid from skin lesions. The incubation period typically ranges from 10 to 21 days, during which the virus replicates and disseminates through sequential phases within the host. Although generally self-limiting in children,...
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...