This paper provides a summary of measles circulation patterns and efforts to interrupt measles transmission in the Americas during 2001. In 1994 countries in the Americas set a goal of interrupting indigenous measles transmission by the end of 2000. To that end the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) recommended a measles vaccination strategy which includes a national catch-up campaign for children aged 1-14 years; a routine keep-up vaccination for infants aged 1 year; and national follow-up campaigns every 3-5 years for children aged 1-4 years regardless of measles vaccination history. Significantly the implementation of national vaccination and surveillance programs reduced measles incidence by 99% during 1990-2000. However in Haiti and Venezuela measles is still endemic. As demonstrated by the PAHO data measles could be imported to measles-free countries from countries where the virus is endemic. Thus all countries in the Americas must maintain the highest possible population immunity and must strengthen surveillance to detection importations. In addition vaccination efforts should also be focused to susceptible adolescent and young individuals who are at risk for exposure to measles.
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A 2002 study studied this question.