Q: Recently, some news media have successively reported the outbreak of measles in some domestic provinces, Japan and other countries, which has attracted extensive attention of the society. Then, how is the situation in our city?

A: Here, I would like to notify the public of the measles epidemic situation in our city. By May 29, 2007, a total of 1551 measles cases have been reported, with a decrease of 39.77% compared with the same period of last year. Currently, the overall measles incidence is in a decline, so please be reassured.

According to the monitoring statistics since 2000, more than 70% measles patients in Beijing are among the migrant population. The incidence of measles in the migrant population is 10 times as high as native population in Beijing.

Q: It is said that lots of measles prevention measures have been adopted in our city ever since a long time ago.

A: Yes, we have developed many measures for measles prevention and control. For example, after 1983, measles vaccination was incorporated into the routine vaccination scheme; vaccination certificate review and supplementary vaccination were carried out in schools for migrant workers’ children as well as public primary schools and colleges where migrant students were also received; similarly, we organized employers to vaccinate their migrant workers who were under 40 and had not been vaccinated in the past 3 years; in some collective-owned units like schools and worksites where epidemic situation there was incidence of measles, we conducted emergency vaccination for the personnel; moreover, we also adopted comprehensive monitoring measures, including the supervision on measles occurrence and antibody level among the population, etc.

Q: What you have mentioned so far are the measures adopted by the government, but what should the residents do in terms of measles prevention?

A: First of all, the most effective method for measles prevention is vaccination. The current immunization procedure in Beijing is that 8-month, 18-month and 6-year-old children, as well as the freshmen from outside Beijing should receive vaccination. And those who have not been timely vaccinated, never infect measles or are uncertain about their immune history may go to vaccination clinic to take vaccination provided that they have no contraindications.

Secondly, respiratory isolation should be maintained for the measles-infected in the hospital or at home within 5 days of infection. For patients with complications, the isolation period should be extended to 10 days. In addition, during the infection, the patients should stay at home as much as possible.

Thirdly, people should try their best to stay away from the places where the population is concentrated in the peak season of measles occurrence. Especially, the children who are unvaccinated and never infect measles or whose immune history are uncertain, should avoid visiting friends or other family members, and should not go to the public places where the population is concentrated, so that the risk of transmission and infection can be reduced.

    Moreover, we should put emphasis on personal and environmental hygiene. Windows and doors should be regularly opened to enhance air circulation, and aeration should last for above 30 minutes in the room which measles patients have stopped by. Meanwhile, physical exercises should also be strengthened, so as to elevate anti-disease capacity. For more relevant information, please call sanitation and disease prevention hot line on 12320 to make further inquires.