Keywords
Measles; Epidemiology; Elimination; Incidence; Trends; Oman; Eastern Mediterranean Region
Abstract
The Eastern Mediterranean region has set goals for interrupting indigenous transmission of measles using a strategy developed by the World Health Organization. This strategy includes recommendations for vaccination activities to be achieved and sustained thereby increasing the population’s immunity. Measles epidemiological surveillance systems were developed to monitor illnesses characterized by febrile rash, and to provide effective virus detection and serological surveillance. Elimination is defined as the absence of endemic measles transmission in a defined geographical area (e.g., region or country) for ≥12 months in the presence of a well-performing surveillance system. Oman has committed to these goals.
Measles was a leading cause of infant and child morbidity and mortality in Oman before the introduction of measles vaccine by 1975 and thereafter until 1994. With the introduction of a second dose of measles vaccine in 1994, coverage for first and second doses of measles vaccine increased more than 95% in 1996 and has been sustained at a level greater than >95% since then. A national Measles and Rubella (MR) immunization catch-up campaign targeting children ages 15 months to 18 years was conducted in 1994 that achieved 94% coverage. As a result, the incidence of measles has declined markedly in recent years, to ≤ 1 case per million persons in 2012 and to zero cases in 2013.
Oman has made significant progress toward measles elimination and has met the regional elimination goals. However, new challenges faced by Oman, for instance with increased globalization, has led to issues such as outbreaks from imported cases. Additional challenges still remain with regard to increasing identification and immunization of unvaccinated non-Omani workers and their families.
Citation
Awaidy STA, Baqlani SA, Mahrouqi SA, Rawahi BA, Busaidi SA, Obaidani IA, Shabibi MA, Den HMNA, Barwani AMA, Amri ASA and Teleb N. Progress Towards Measles Elimination: Oman Experience. SM Vaccine Vaccin.2015;1(1):1004