Effects of Anti-Measles Control Measures at each medical care area Wthin the Madrid Autonomous Community

Abstract

Backgroound: Measles is a disease subject to a Child vaccination programme that has undergone changes with respect to the epidemiological model employed. The purpose of this study is to define the temporal series of measles cases within the Autonomous Community of Madrid as of 1971 in each particular Medical Care Area. identify the risk of contracting the disease in each such area and to evaluate the effect of control measures against outbreaks of the disease. Method: A descrlptibe analysis is carried out of the temporal series relating to measles. Series components are obtained by means of a multiplication model: seasonal. cyclic or irregular trend. The break in transmission of the disease and risk attributed to each area is then compared. Results: The number of reported cases of the disease decreased by 89% after implementation of the vaccination programme: the series has remained atable and it was observed that non-epidemic intervals have increased. The risk of contracting measles is greater in four Medical Care Areas and the transmission cycle has been broken in 6 Areas. Conclusions: Epidemiologlcal behaviour of measles within the Autonomous Community of Madrid does not differ from other countries before and after the implementation of vaccination programmes. Evldence of the effects of control measures are evidenced by the decrease in the number of reported cases of the disease, change in the epidemiologlcal pattern and break in transmission detected mainly in the Areas in which such controls have been carried out.