What was the incidence of measles historically?
Historically, measles has been a common and highly contagious infectious disease. Before the widespread use of vaccines, nearly everyone in childhood would get infected with the measles virus. According to historical records, measles epidemics would occur in regular cycles, typically every 2-3 years. In the pre-vaccine era, an estimated 2-3 million deaths occurred worldwide each year due to measles.
In the United States, prior to the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963, approximately 3-4 million people would get infected annually, leading to about 400-500 deaths and thousands of cases of measles-related complications, such as pneumonia and encephalitis.
Since the introduction of the measles vaccine, there has been a substantial decline in measles cases globally. However, the incidence of measles can still vary from year to year, with occasional outbreaks occurring due to low vaccination rates or other factors.
The incidence of measles has varied throughout history. Measles is believed to have originated in ancient India or Egypt around the 11th century BCE. The first recorded description of measles dates back to the 9th century by a Persian physician, but it likely existed before then.
Before widespread vaccination, measles was a common childhood illness. In the pre-vaccine era, measles outbreaks occurred cyclically, with larger epidemics occurring every few years. Prior to the introduction of vaccines, nearly everyone acquired measles, and it was estimated that about 90% of people in the United States had been infected with measles by age 15.
The introduction of the measles vaccine in the 1960s led to a significant decline in measles cases. However, there have been periods of resurgence and increased incidence due to factors such as vaccine hesitancy and vaccination gaps.
It's important to note that the actual incidence of measles throughout history is difficult to determine precisely due to limited records and variations in reporting standards.