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Severe measles in Copenhagen, 1915-1925
1Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Reviews of Infectious Diseases
|March 1, 1988
Summary
Measles mortality was 13% in Copenhagen (1915-1925). Secondary measles cases, particularly those acquired at home, had higher fatality rates than initial infections or those from institutions.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Measles is a highly contagious viral illness.
- Understanding transmission patterns is crucial for controlling outbreaks.
- Historical data provides insights into disease dynamics before widespread vaccination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze measles case-fatality ratios in Copenhagen between 1915-1925.
- To compare mortality rates based on the source of infection (index vs. secondary cases).
- To investigate the influence of acquisition setting (home, institution, hospital) on measles mortality.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 2,208 measles cases.
- Data collected from the Infectious Disease Hospital of Copenhagen (1915-1925).
- Comparison of mortality rates across different case types and acquisition settings.
Main Results:
- Overall measles case-fatality ratio was 13%.
- Secondary cases acquired at home exhibited significantly higher mortality than index cases.
- Mortality was higher in secondary home-acquired cases compared to institutional or hospital-acquired cases.
- Children infected in day care institutions had the lowest mortality.
Conclusions:
- The source and setting of measles infection significantly impact patient outcomes.
- Home transmission poses a greater mortality risk compared to institutional settings.
- Public health strategies should consider environmental factors in measles transmission and mortality.