Measles Control in Guangxi, China: High Risk Counties Selection and its Mass Campaign from 1999-2008

Zhuo Jiatong and Zhong Ge

Abstract

Goal: Trying to find a suitable strategy to control and eliminate measles in the developing country. \r\nMethod: Annually carried out mass campaign in the measles outbreak high risk counties selected based on inter-epidemic years interval of the latest epidemic curves of historical surveillance data. \r\nResults: About 20 to 30 high risk counties has been selected annually in the whole Guangxi and mass campaign was implemented to the target children of 8 months to 14 years old in the first campaign period of 1999-2003, the target children shifted to 8 months to 10 years old children in the second campaign period of 2004-2007. The incidence of measles has been dropped from 13/100,000 in 1998 to 2.1/100,000 in 2008. Conclusion: Selecting the measles outbreak high risk counties based on latest epidemic curves and implementing mass campaign target 8 months to 14 years old children in the selected counties is a best way and feasible tool to control, even eliminate measles in developing country.