J Korean Med Sci.  2015 Nov;30(Suppl 2):S115-S121. 10.3346/jkms.2015.30.S2.S115.

Measles Elimination Activities in the Western Pacific Region: Experience from the Republic of Korea

• Choe YJ
• Jee Y
• Oh MD
• Lee JK

• KMID: 2351147
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2015.30.S2.S115

Abstract

We describe the global status of measles control and elimination, including surveillance and vaccination coverage data provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). Since 2000, two doses of measles vaccine (MCV2) became recommended globally and the achievement of high vaccination coverage has led to dramatic decrease in the measles incidence. Our finding indicates that, in the Western Pacific Region (WPR), substantial progress has been made to control measles transmission in some countries; however, the measles virus continues to circulate, causing outbreaks. The Republic of Korea (ROK) experienced a series of resurgence of measles due to the importation and healthcare-associated transmission in infants, however overall incidence and surveillance indicators met the WHO criteria for measles elimination. The ROK was verified to be measles-free along with Australia, Mongolia, and Macau, China in 2014. One of the effective elimination activities was the establishment of solid keep-up vaccination system in school settings. The lessons learnt from the measles elimination activities in Korea may contribute to enhancing the surveillance schemes and strengthening of vaccination programs in member countries and areas of WPR.

Keyword

Measles; Korea; Western Pacific Region; Elimination; Surveillance

MeSH Terms

Disease Eradication/methods/*organization & administration
Government Programs/organization & administration
Humans
Incidence
Mass Vaccination/*organization & administration
Measles/diagnosis/*epidemiology/*prevention & control
Measles Vaccine/*administration & dosage
Pacific Ocean
Population Surveillance/*methods
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Risk Factors
School Health Services/organization & administration
Treatment Outcome
Measles Vaccine

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Global number of reported measles cases and estimate of the first and second doses of measles immunization coverage, 1980-2013. MCV, measles containing vaccine.

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  Fig. 2 Measles incidence rate per 100,000 population/year and estimate of the first dose of measles vaccination coverage by WHO Region, 1980-2013. WHO, World Health Organization; incidence, reported case per 100,000 population per year; bar represent incidence rate, line represent immunization coverage.

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  Fig. 3 Change in the incidence of measles in the Republic of Korea, 1960-2012.

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