Countries are making relentless efforts to reverse the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine vaccination and epidemiological surveillance. However, measles outbreaks are re-emerging globally and regionally. In 2024, as of February 29, 55 measles cases were confirmed in six countries in the Americas region; these cases have been imported, import-related, or from an unknown source of infection.
Therefore, the Comprehensive Immunization Program of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) will hold a regional webinar to review the clinical aspects of the disease, as well as surveillance and vaccination activities for measles and rubella. This webinar targets health care workers, with emphasis on clinicians, epidemiologists, nurses, laboratorians, among others, involved in case detection, notification, management, and outbreak response.
The webinar will be via Zoom, on March 19, 2024, from 10:00-12:00 Washington DC time, USA. Participants can register using this link:
Watch the recorded session here
Session materials:
- Presentations in English
- Course - Measles Outbreak in the Post-elimination Era: Case Study
- Course - Quick response to measles and rubella outbreaks in the Americas in Spanish
Subject and panelists
Introduction
Opening - Welcoming comments
Dr. Daniel Salas, Executive Manager, Comprehensive Immunization Program (CIM), PAHO
Global and regional status of measles
Dr. Desiree Pastor, Regional Advisor, CIM/PAHO
Dr. Gloria Rey, Regional Advisor, CIM/PAHO
Session 1: Clinical aspects of measles and rubella and main differences with other febrile and rash diseases
Dr. Tracey Evans-Gilbert, Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Global Health Department, West Virginia University
Session 2: Epidemiological surveillance field actions to improve system sensitivity
Dr. Gloria Rey, Regional Advisor, CIM/PAHO
Session 3: Actions in vaccination to increase the levels of population immunity
Dr. Desiree Pastor, Regional Advisor, CIM/PAHO
Questions and answers
Closing