MEASLES ELIMINATION IN THE AMERICA - EVOLVING STRATEGIES

The strategy currently used to control measles in most countries has b een to immunize each successive birth cohort through the routine healt h services delivery system. While measles vaccine coverage has increas ed markedly, significant measles outbreaks have continued to recur. Du ring the past 5 years, experience in the Americas suggests that measle s transmission has been interrupted in a number of countries (Cuba, Ch ile, and countries in the English-speaking Caribbean and successfully controlled in ail remaining countries, Since 1991 these countries have implemented one-time ''catch-up'' vaccination campaigns (conducted du ring short period, usually 1 week to 1 month, and targeting all childr en 9 months through 14 years of age, regardless of previous vaccinatio n status or measles disease history). These campaigns have been follow ed by improvements in routine vaccination services and in surveillance systems, so that the progress of the measles elimination efforts can be sustained and monitored. follow-up mass vaccination campaigns for c hildren younger than 5 years are planned to take place every 3 to 5 ye ars.