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October 30, 2002

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"New Measles Strain Strikes High School Students"

Mainichi Daily News (mdn.mainichi.co.jp) (10/28/02) P. 1

Officials from Japan's National Center for Contagious Diseases have confirmed that 109 people in Kitaibaraki contracted a rare and deadly H-1 strain of measles in February and March of this year.  While the new strain affected people of all ages, 78 of the patients were junior high school students.  Japan typically only sees the D3 and D5 strains of measles; officials say H-1 appeared for the first time three years ago in Hong Kong. Officials note that although most of those infected this year had been vaccinated against the usual strains, H-1 emerged as those immunizations began to wane.  Students who were infected even though they had been vaccinated against measles also experienced less severe symptoms than individuals who had not been immunized, officials said.

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