Measles: effect of a two-dose vaccination programme in Catalonia, Spain

The study reports incidences of measles in Catalonia, Spain, as detected by surveillance, and analyses the specific characteristics of the outbreaks r eported for the period 1986-95. Incidences per 100 000 inhabitants were cal culated for the period 1971-95. The following variables were studied: year of presentation, number of cases, median age, transmission setting, cases w ith a record of vaccination and preventable cases. Associations between var iables were determined using odds ratios (OR). The incidence of measles dec lined from 306.3 cases in 1971 to 30.9 in 1995. A total of 50 outbreaks wer e investigated. The outbreaks that occurred in the last two years of the st udy had a higher likelihood of having a transmission setting other than pri mary school (OR = 3.9); a median case age > 10 years (OR = 7.2); and fewer than 6 cases (OR = 2.3). The characteristics of recent outbreaks, marked by a rise both in transmission outside the primary-school setting and in medi an age, indicate the need for the introduction of a specific vaccination pr ogramme at the end of adolescence in addition to control of school-related outbreaks.