Measles in the United Kingdom: can we eradicate it by 2010?

doi:10.1136/bmj.38989.445845.7C

BMJ 2006;333:890-895 (28 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.38989.445845.7C

Clinical review

Measles in the United Kingdom: can we eradicate it by 2010?

Perviz Asaria, senior house officer¹, Eithne MacMahon, consultant virologist¹

¹ Infection and Immunology Delivery Unit, Guy's and St Thomas's NHS Foundation Trust, St Thomas's Hospital, London SE1 7EH

Correspondence to: E MacMahon eithne.macmahon@gstt.nhs.uk

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Introduction

Measles has reappeared in the United Kingdom, with 449 confirmedcases to the end of May 2006 compared with 77 in 2005, and thefirst death since 1992.^{1 2} Cases are occurring in inadequatelyvaccinated children and in young adults, leading to concernsthat endemic measles could re-emerge. But, as with smallpox,measles could be eradicated. It has been eliminated in the Americassince 2002. The World Health Organization has set 2010 as thetarget for elimination in the European region, where 29 000cases were reported in 2004.³ Much ground will have to be regainedin the United Kingdom if the 2010 target is to be met.

We review the uptake of the combined measles, mumps, and rubella(MMR) vaccine in the United Kingdom and Europe, and identifysusceptible groups. As clinical experience of measles has declined,doctors in the United Kingdom may not consider the diagnosisnor recognise a . . . [Full text of this article]

Measles epidemiology and transmission

Can measles be eradicated?

Measles in the United Kingdom

Clinical manifestations

Complications of measles

Respiratory complications

Neurological complications

Gastrointestinal complications

Vitamin A deficiency and blindness

Measles induced immune suppression

Diagnosis

Differential diagnosis

Measles in the immunocompromised host

Measles in pregnancy

Atypical measles

Treatment

Prevention

Conclusion

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