[Detection of epidemics from the Compulsory Disease Report. The case of measles in Las Palmas]

The system of Compulsory Disease Reports (CDR) is an epidemiological monitoring regarding cases of contagious diseases which has been in use in Spain for over forty years. In 1982, new additions were made to the list of diseases for which a report is to be filed and, since that time, it was insisted upon that the centers falling under the National Health Institute be included among those having to file said reports. Nevertheless, many physicians question the need for this system and its usefulness. The cases of measles for which reports were filed in the province of Las Palmas from 1983 to 1988 were studied. Two waves of epidemics, occurring in early 1983 and in mid-1988, were observed, being patently distinguished from the noise of the reports between. Both waves of epidemics coincide with the hospitalization of cases of measles-related pneumonia in the pediatric hospital of that province. Based on these waves of epidemics, the importance of carrying out accurate measles vaccination studies for immunizing the populations against this disease is implied. The epidemiological importance of this CDR system is discussed both from a historic point of view and from that of epidemiological monitoring, and the need of drawing up and using operational definitions for each one of the diseases which is to be reported is reiterated. In conclusion, a positive evaluation of the usefulness of the CDR system, in spite of its current limitations, is provided, for which reason the importance of continuing to improve this system is stressed.