[Measles in Poland in 2008]

Justyna Rogalska1

  • 1Zakład Epidemiologii, Narodowego Instytutu Zdrowia Publicznego - Państwowego Zakładu Higieny w Warszawie. jrogalska@pzh.gov.pl

Insights

Poland registered 100 measles cases in 2008, primarily affecting young children. Despite high hospitalization rates, no deaths occurred, highlighting the need for improved measles surveillance and sustained immunization coverage.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Context:

  • Poland reported 100 measles cases in 2008, with the highest incidence in children aged 0-4 years.
  • The majority of cases (83%) required hospitalization, but no fatalities were recorded.
  • Poland is committed to the World Health Organization's Measles Elimination Strategy.

Purpose:

  • To evaluate the performance of Poland's measles surveillance system in 2008.
  • To assess the effectiveness of current measles control measures and identify areas for improvement.

Summary:

  • Measles surveillance in Poland showed insufficient performance, with only 46% of expected measles-compatible cases reported.
  • Serological confirmation rates were also suboptimal, indicating challenges in timely diagnosis and reporting.
  • The study underscores the necessity of maintaining high immunization coverage and enhancing the measles surveillance system.

Impact:

  • Identified critical gaps in measles surveillance performance in Poland.
  • Provides evidence for the need to strengthen public health infrastructure for infectious disease monitoring.
  • Informs strategies for achieving and maintaining measles elimination goals in the region.

Related Concept Videos

Poliomyelitis01:17

Poliomyelitis

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...
Vaccinations01:51

Vaccinations

Overview
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,...
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.
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...