As of January 2,1993 (week 53), local and state health departments reported a provisional total of 2200* measles cases for 19921—a 77% decrease from the 9643 cases reported for 19912, and a 92% decrease from the 27,786 cases reported for 1990. Cases were reported from 36 states and the District of Columbia. This provisional total is one of the lowest annual totals reported in the United States; fewer cases were reported only in 1982 (1714 cases) and 1983 (1497 cases).4 This report summarizes epidemiologic characteristics of measles cases reported for 1992 and compares them with cases reported during 1989-1991.
From 1989 through 1992, the median age of persons reported with measles declined steadily (12.0 years in 1989, 5.7 years in 1990, 5.2 years in 1991, and 4.9 years in 1992), while the proportion of cases among infants increased. Of measles cases in 1992, 22.2% occurred