Measles in Poland in 2017

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Immunization Programs

Background:

• Poland's commitment to measles elimination since 1998, coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Achieving 95% vaccination coverage and robust surveillance are critical for measles elimination.
• The Polish Reference Laboratory at the Department of Virology NIPH-NIH plays a key role in diagnostics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the 2017 measles epidemiological situation in Poland.
• To assess measles vaccination coverage rates.
• To evaluate the progress of Poland's measles elimination program.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of case-based questionnaires for suspected measles cases reported to NIPH-NIH.
• Utilized data from "Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland in 2017" and "Vaccinations in Poland in 2017".
• Epidemiological data was collected from Sanitary and Epidemiological Stations.

Main Results:

• In 2017, 63 measles cases were reported (incidence 0.16/100,000), with the highest incidence in 5-year-olds.
• 60.3% of cases were hospitalized; no fatal cases were reported.
• High vaccination coverage was maintained: 92.9%-99.3% for primary and 92.4%-97.8% for booster doses.

Conclusions:

• The measles epidemiological situation in Poland improved in 2017 compared to 2016.
• Vaccination coverage remains at a satisfactory level.
• Enhanced physician reporting and laboratory confirmation of all measles cases are crucial for improving surveillance.