Laboratory surveillance of measles in Yangzhou, Jiangsu province, 2008

ObjectiveTo analysis the laboratory surveillance of measles in Yangzhou and provide basis to improve the quality of the surveillance. MethodsSerum samples from suspected measles cases were tested by measles and rubella IgM-capture ELISA, and data were analyzed by using software of SPSS 13.0. ResultsA total of 119 serum samples were collected from suspected measles cases, among which 112 were from sporadic cases with measles and rubella IgM positive rates of 45.53% (51 cases) and 22.32% (25 cases) respectively, the remained 7 were from outbreak cases and 6 were rubella IgM positive, so a rubella outbreak was confirmed. ConclusionThe difference on the number of laboratory confirmed measles cases in different areas in Yangzhou was significant. The incidence of measles and rubella had obvious seasonality, measles incidence peaked during February-April, and rubella incidence peaked during March-May. The difference on laboratory confirmed measles and rubella case number in different age group was significant, but no significant gender difference was observed.