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MEASLES, COLLEGES & SCHOOLS - JAPAN
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Date: Mon 7 Jul 2003
From: Narufumi Suganuma <suganuma@fmsrsa.fukui-med.ac.jp>
Source: Asahi Sinbun, Sun 6 Jul 2003 [edited]


Japan: Outbreaks of Measles at Colleges and High Schools
--------------------------------------------------------
There have been several measles outbreaks centering on 3 colleges and 14 
high schools, according to the Infectious Disease Surveillance Center, the 
National Institute of Infectious Diseases.

In June 2003, 60 freshmen at the medical school in Kagoshima University 
were infected with measles. Some bedside teaching that was to be performed 
in a teaching hospital 4 km from the university campus was cancelled. All 
1500 medical and dental students were tested for serum measles antibody, 
and negative students were isolated at home until they received 
vaccination. Dr. Hiromi Yoshida, Dean of the Medical School, stated that 
medical students were voluntarily isolated at home in order to prevent 
further spread of measles, especially to hospitalized patients. The school 
will begin administering the measles antibody test to all admitted students 
and will give vaccinations beginning next year.

In Kanazawa Technology College, 70 students became infected with measles 
and 26 were hospitalized between 8 May and 30 Jun 2003. The college 
reported the outbreak to the regional Health Center when the number of 
cases exceeded 20. The college called upon every student and employee to be 
vaccinated, and 70 percent of them complied.

This is the first time that the Infectious Disease Surveillance Center has 
collected information on an intra-school outbreak. High schools in Tokyo, 
Miyazaki, and Ishikawa have also experienced outbreaks.

Vaccination law requires that measles vaccine be administered between the 
ages of 1.5 to 7.5 years, but only voluntarily. About 80 percent of 
children were vaccinated. MMR (mumps, measles, rubella) mixed vaccine used 
in the late 80's caused some adverse effects, and the Japanese Ministry of 
Health and Welfare stopped its use in 1993. Only measles vaccine is used now.

Dr. Kihei Terada, at Kawasaki Medical College said, "All colleges in the 
USA demand certification of vaccination upon admission. The same procedure 
should be introduced in Japanese colleges to prevent these outbreaks. 
Medical schools should be the first to introduce the system as an example."

--
Narufumi Suganuma, MD, PhD
Dept Environmental Health
Fukui Medical University School of Medicine
23-3 Shimoaizuki, Matsuoka, Yoshida
Fukui 910-1193 Japan
<suganuma@fmsrsa.fukui-med.ac.jp>

[Measles remains a threat wherever vaccine coverage is inadequate. The use 
of the single vaccine as opposed to the triple MMR vaccine does not appear 
-- in Japan at least -- to have resulted in a greater use of measles 
vaccine. - Mod.CP]

[see also:
2002
----
Measles virus, outbreak of H1 genotype - Japan (02) 20021101.5681
Measles virus, outbreak of H1 genotype - Japan      20021030.5670
2001
----
Measles, imported - Brazil ex Japan (03) 20010701.1257
Measles, imported - Brazil ex Japan (02) 20010629.1238
Measles, imported - Brazil ex Japan      20010627.1223]
...................cp/pg/dk


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