Measles Epidemiology in Italy

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Abstract
Santoro R (Laboratorio Virologia, Istituto Superiore di Sanitá, Via Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy), Ruggeri FM, Battaglia M, Papicetta M, Grandolfo, ME, Annesi I and Cortellessa CM. Measles epidemiology in Italy. International Journal of Epidemiology1984, 3: 201–209. In preparation for a mass vaccination programme, the immune status with regard to measles was determined in over 8300 unvaccinated children aged 0–13 years, residing in eight Italian cities with different socioeconomic situations and geographical locations. The age corresponding to the 50% prevalence of immunes appeared to be intermediate (2.9–5.5 years) between that reported for industrialized (6–7 years) and developing countries (1–2 years). The 50% prevalence of natural immunity was reached at an earlier age in southern cities in which poorer socioeconomic and hygienic conditions prevailed; the earlier occurrence of measles in these areas was confirmed by a more detailed serological study of children in the first 24 months of life. For children aged 2–13 years, serological results showed that the history of measles reported by parents on questionnaires gave high positive predictive values (over 85%). Our seroepidemiological study shows that, on the basis of the ages of 25 and 75% prevalence of immunes, the target population for a mass immunization programme in Italy can be assumed to be aged from 12 months to 7 years. However, special attention should be given to the poorest areas, especially in southern Italy, where measles occurs earlier and can be particularly severe.