Global measles outbreaks and vaccination patterns in developing countries

Spread of Measles Globally

Community Health Nursing: Environmental and Global Health Issues and How Communities Are Affected by Environmental and Global Health Issues

This study intends to examine the impact of increased mobility of the human population, the spread of disease, changes in vaccination patterns and the global issues for health community health professionals. This study intends to analyze the communicable disease outbreak of measles and to discuss the route of transmission of measles. In addition, this work will create a graphic representation of the outbreak's international pattern of movement or possible movement.

Measles Outbreaks In Europe

It is reported that measles outbreaks in Europe served to contribute to a global rise in the number of reported measles cases between 2009 and 2010 stated at 7,499 and 30,625 cases respectively. The outbreaks in Africa over the same time period are reported as representative of a "widespread resurgence of measles that affected 28 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with more than 250-000 reported measles cases and more than 1500 reported measles-associated deaths. Estimated underreporting of measles suggests that true numbers of cases and deaths may be as much as 10 -- 50 times higher." (World Health Organization, 2012) Because measles spreads quickly, the need to diagnosis measles immediately exists. Failure to maintain high levels of population immunity in a uniform fashion throughout European countries is reported as "… the underlying cause of the outbreaks." (World Health Organization, 2012) The following illustration shows how population that is not immunized against measles is quickly infected with the disease as it rapidly spreads among the population.

Figure 1

The small red circle denotes a population largely not immunized against measles.Spread of Measles