Abstract

PIP: The epidemiology of measles was investigated in a village without any health care supervision, 3 villages with health care supervision but without measles immunization, and in 2 villages covered with measles vaccine as part of health care, all near Vellore in south India. There was an epidemic of measles in and around Vellore during the last quarter of 1977 and the 1st quarter of 1978. In the 1st village, the attack rate among preschool children was 26% and the overall case fatality rate was 14%. In the 2nd group of villages, the attack rate was 20% and the case fatality rate 3.7%. In the vaccinated villages, the attack rate was 4% with no death; measles was confined to the unvaccinated children in these villages. No measles occurred among 121 vaccinated children. Measles complications were predominantly gastrointestinal (35-52%) and respiratory (37-58%). In light of the results of these and other studies, the inclusion of measles vaccine is strongly recommended in the routine immunization of preschool children in India.