Introduction: Since 1998 Poland has endorsed measles elimination programme which is coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO). To accomplish measles elimination in the country, achievement of vaccination coverage at 95% in the population is needed, as is the monitoring of the epidemiological situation, i.e.: reporting on cases suspected of measles and conducting laboratory diagnostics in WHO Reference Laboratory. Polish Reference Laboratory is located at the Department of Virology NIPH-NIH.
Objectives: The aim of the article is to analyze the epidemiological situation of measles in Poland in 2017 with presenting the measles vaccination coverage and the progress of the measles elimination programme in Poland.
Material and methods: The epidemiological situation of measles in Poland was analyzed on the basis of the case-based questionnaires of cases suspected of measles sent to NIPH-NIH by the Sanitary and Epidemiological Stations, data from the publications: “Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland in 2017” and “Vaccinations in Poland in 2017”.
Results: In 2017, 63 cases of measles were notified to the surveillance system in Poland (incidence 0,16 per 100 000 population). The highest incidence was observed in the age 5 and was estimated at 1.27 per 100 000 population. Out of all cases, 38 (60.3%) were hospitalized. No fatal cases due to the measles were reported. In 2017 the maintenance of high vaccination coverage among children aged 2 and 12 years old was observed - from 92.9% to 99.3% (primary vaccination, children born in 2010-2016) and from 92.4% to 97.8% (booster vaccination, children born in 2004-2009).
Conclusions: The epidemiological situation of measles in 2017 in comparison with the situation in 2016, has improved. Irrespective of that, the vaccination coverage was sustained at the satisfactory level. In order to achieve the improvement of the measles surveillance system, promoting of the measles elimination programme among the physicians is necessary with focusing on the necessity to report and laboratory confirm all measles cases and the cases suspected of measles.
National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene