Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026
04:43
COVID-19 Seroprevalence Test for IgG Antibody Levels Among Healthy Donors Across Different Pandemic Phases in Jeddah
Published on: June 24, 2025
Measles epidemiology and its implications for a vaccination programme in Oman
P K Patel1, S T Al-Awaidy, S Bawikar
1Department of Health Affairs, Directorate-General of Health Services, Dhahira, Ministry of Health, Oman. pakki_kp@hotmail.com
Summary
Measles outbreaks in Oman disproportionately affected unvaccinated children and non-Omani residents. These findings highlight critical gaps in vaccination coverage and inform strategies for future measles control programs.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Infectious Disease Surveillance
Background:
- Measles remains a significant public health concern globally.
- Understanding local epidemiological patterns is crucial for effective vaccination programs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the epidemiology of measles in Oman.
- To assess the implications for the national vaccination program.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective record-based study.
- Utilized data from the national epidemiological surveillance system (2000-2003).
- Included 185 notified suspected measles cases; measles IgM testing performed on 97.3%.
Main Results:
- Confirmed measles in 19.4% of notified cases.
- Mean age of cases was 8.0 years (SD 10.7).
- Overall measles incidence rate was 0.53 per 100,000 person-years.
- Measles was significantly more common in non-Omani residents and unvaccinated children.
Conclusions:
- Measles epidemiology in Oman during 2000-2003 showed higher incidence in specific demographic groups.
- Findings underscore the importance of vaccination for measles prevention in Oman.
- Implications for vaccination programs include targeting unvaccinated populations and non-Omani residents.
Related Concept Videos
01:51Vaccinations
Overview
01:24Smallpox
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.
01:28Infectious 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...
01:17Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis is caused by poliovirus, a small, non-enveloped, positive-sense RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family and Enterovirus genus. Transmission occurs primarily via the fecal-oral route, often through ingestion of contaminated water or food. The virus initially replicates in the oropharynx and intestinal mucosa, particularly in lymphoid tissues such as the tonsils, Peyer’s patches, and regional lymph nodes. Primary viremia follows, allowing dissemination throughout the body.In most...
01:20Chickenpox
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,...
01:29Malaria
Malaria pathogenesis in humans reflects a delicate interplay between parasite biology and host response. Clinical illness reflects a host’s immune response to the parasite’s asexual replication cycle, which is often asymptomatic in individuals with partial immunity. From the parasite's perspective, transmission between mosquito and human with minimal host pathology is evolutionarily advantageous. Among the six Plasmodium species infecting humans, P. falciparum and P. vivax dominate in global...