Measles epidemic in Israel - Successful containment in the military

Background Measles vaccination at ages 12-15 months is a routine part of st andard health care in developed countries. Nonetheless, the prevention and control of measles outbreaks remain a challenge, owing to incomplete or var iable compliance with immunization programs and primary vaccine failure (ap proximately 5%). In Israel, vaccination coverage against measles is high, y et sero-epidemiological studies conducted in the early 1990s showed that 15 % of 18-year-olds were unprotected. Methods. In 1994 there was a countrywide epidemic of measles, which spread to the military. The Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps immediately launch ed a wide-scale vaccination campaign, targeting primarily field units and t raining bases, where crowded living conditions are the rule. Results. The immunization campaign led to an abrupt cessation of morbidity in the military. In the civilian sector, where no intervention was undertak en, the epidemic continued for another 4 months. Conclusions: Institutional measles outbreaks, especially in the presence of crowded conditions or hig h contact rates, may be effectively controlled by mass vaccination. (C) 2000 American Health Foundation and Academic Press.