The Incidence of Measles in Regional Health 2: B.E.2554-2557

Abstract

Measles is caused by a Measles virus that belongs to Family Paramyxoviridae. Vaccination is tool for preventing disease, however, measles outbreaks and deaths due to complications has been reported. World Health Organizaiton (WHO) has adopted policy on eradication of measles. The Southeast Asian region aims to eliminate measles by 2020, in addition to Thailand. Regional Medical Sciences Center2,Phitsanulok has been performed ELISA testing for detection of measles and rubella antibodies in Regional health 2 area including Phitsanulok, Tak, Phetchabun, Sukhothai and Uttaradit since July 2011. The Results revealed that 58 of 250 measles suspected patients (23.2 %) were measles infection, and 192 cases negative measles patients 22 cases (11.5%) shown as rubella-infected patients. The majority of patients belongs to a group in the family-population and workers, 46.6% and 22.4% respectively. Additional, 41.4% of patients' was found in age group of <4 years and >15 years, which mainly residents of Tak and Phechabun, 51.7%, 39.6 % respectively. Due to the responsible area adjacent to Myanmar, 29.3% of patients was Myanmise that did not received measles vaccine. Since the vaccination campaign in areas where measles patients were reported, a number of measles-infected patients have declined. In order to achieve measles eradication, rapid measles investigation and control as well as increasing vaccine cover rate should be improved.