Measles, killer of millions in developing countries: strategy for rapid elimination and continuing control

Measles, which is still killing about two million children a year in poor countries, was mostly eliminated within two to three months after the conclusion of a special, national mass vaccination campaign in which all children of a selected age group received measles vaccine subcutaneously during a period of days to months, regardless of a history of previous vaccination or measles. This strategy was tested in the Dominican Republic in 1985, in Cuba in 1986-87, and in the State of São Paulo, Brazil May 11-June 10, 1987. Subsequent control was maintained by different procedures in the three states. A simple, rapid indirect immunofluorescent test for IgM measles antibody, used in Greater São Paulo, was more efficient in confirming concurrent infection with measles virus than the hemagglutination inhibition test for IgG antibody, and only one blood specimen taken during the course of the rash was needed to confirm the etiologic diagnosis in 97.5% of 240 cases confirmed by IgM. In Greater São Paulo and Cuba, it was found that over 90% of the small number of suspect measles cases reported during the first year after the mass campaign, were not caused by measles virus. The cost of disposable syringes and needles in the State of São Paulo, where 8,565,230 children were vaccinated in 10,527 centers in 30 days, was U.S. $2,057,753 or 63% of the total. Immunization by aerosol could have vaccinated this number of children more easily and effectively in one day if each of the vaccination centers had been supplied with one plastic foot or hand pressure pump and nebulizer at a cost of only about U.S. $300,000.