[Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) in Poland 1987-1989. Stage IV of the epidemiological studies]

In the years 1987-1989 111 patients of SSPE who react positively to laboratory tests were found in Poland. The incidence rate of the disease was in 1987-1.30; in 1980-0.98 and in 1989-0.66 per million inhabitants (in the years 1984-1986 the incidence of SSPE was respectively 1.22; 1.05 and 0.9 per million). The authors observed a shift in the incidence peak of SSPE from the age group 8-9 years in 1977-1983 and 10-12 years in 1984-1986 to the age group 13-14 years in 1987-1989. Among 111 SSPE cases only 6 children (5.4) had been vaccinated against measles while the coverage of measles vaccination in Poland reached over 95%.