[01] Waleed Al Faisal, Health Affairs Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [02] Hamid Yahya Hussain, Health Affairs Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [03] Nusaiba Al Behandy, Health Affairs Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE.

Measles is a highly contagious infection that affects about 20 million people a year, primarily in the developing areas of Africa and Asia. Vaccination has resulted in a 75% decrease in deaths from measles between 2000 and 2013 with about 85% of children globally being currently vaccinated. The objective is to study measles incidence and trends along the last five years in Dubai, and to study the impact of population based mass immunization intervention on the level of incidence of measles in Dubai. Retrospective records review of the notifiable disease in Dubai (infectious Disease surveillance system) for retrieving secondary data for the year 2013-2014 on measles cases. The output of the mass population Mumps, Measles and Rubella (MMR) vaccination national campaign during 2015 as preventive intervention tool was reviewed. In addition, a cohort of 3-18 years old population was followed for two successive years after mass population immunization campaign. Number of measles cases in the year 2013 was 38 cases among females and 74 cases among males, with a total of 112 cases. Numbers of students who are covered with measles vaccine during the national measles vaccination campaign, 2015, within their school was 162299 students. Number of measles cases has dropped after the campaign to 26 cases in 2016 and 8 cases in 2017. Primary prevention intervention strategy proved to be highly effective in reducing measles incidence and cases towards reaching elimination and eradication status. Vaccination coverage significantly linked to cases reporting and identification among target population. Immunization coverage (routine, catch up and national campaign) needs to be maintained on sustainable performance to accelerate reductions of measles cases reporting on long term. Revising national immunization program performance should be always monitored through the cases reporting and disease incidence.

Measles, Incidence, Trends, Pre and Post Intervention

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