Australia declared measles free

[depakid]

High take-up rates of the infant measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine has led to the elimination of the endemic measles virus in Australia, immunisation experts say.

Researchers from the University of Sydney, writing in the Bulletin of the World Health Organisation, claim that in 2005 and 2007, Australia satisfied the main criteria of having a low level of measles infection, with less than one case per million people.

A total of 125 cases were reported in 2006 - equivalent to six cases per million - but more than half of these were attributed to a outbreak linked to the tour of a foreign spiritual group.

In a seperate study the researchers suggest Australia's status will hold until at least 2012, and under the best-case scenario should be maintained for at least 20 years.

The prediction is made in the latest edition of the journal Vaccine.

More: http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2009/02/11/2487452.htm?site=science&topic=human

[TZ]

1. Better hope nobody unvaccinated from the US visits

We are unfortunately suffering from a return of measles here due to increasing numbers of non vaccinated persons travelling. Props to the Aussies though. Hopefully they keep it up