Publication of CDC Surveillance Summaries

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Surveillance

Background:

• Measles remains a significant public health concern globally.
• Effective vaccination programs have historically reduced measles incidence.
• Ongoing surveillance is critical for monitoring disease trends and outbreaks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report and analyze measles surveillance data in the United States for the year 1991.
• To identify trends in measles incidence and affected populations.
• To inform public health strategies for measles control.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of reported measles cases from national surveillance data.
• Calculation of overall and age-specific incidence rates.
• Comparison of 1991 data with previous years, specifically 1990.

Main Results:

• A total of 9,643 measles cases were reported in the U.S. in 1991.
• This represents a substantial 65.3% decrease compared to 27,786 cases in 1990.
• The overall measles incidence was 3.9 cases per 100,000 population.
• Highest incidence rates were observed in children under 12 months (46.9/100,000) and those aged 1-4 years (19.6/100,000).

Conclusions:

• The United States experienced a significant reduction in measles cases in 1991.
• Young children, particularly infants, remain the most vulnerable population.
• Continued surveillance and vaccination efforts are essential to maintain measles control.