Measles epidemiology in Mazandaran province, Iran, 2000-2002

To determine the incidence and characteristics of measles, cases reported to the Health Center for Diseases Control 2000-2002 were reviewed. Demographics data, vaccination status and its relation to occurrence the disease were analysed. A total of 729 cases (270 women,162, 269, 298, over the 3 years) were reported. The annual incidence rates over the 3 years were 7.1, 11.9 and 12.7 for each 10(5) population. In full vaccinated subjects, 46.5% of the cases occurred and 39.9% of the cases had not been vaccinated. Because of the high incidence rate of measles both in vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, paying more attention to proper shipping and storing of vaccine, and even catch-up immunization for increasing herd immunity are recommended.