TABLE 1.
Provisional morbidity for certain infectious diseases in the United States in 1998, compared to peak morbidity prior to 1990, before universal use of vaccines in childrena
| Disease | Annual morbidity (peak yr) | 1998 provisional morbidity | % Decrease |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smallpox | 48,164 (1900) | 0 | 100 |
| Diphtheria | 175,885 (1920) | 1 | 100 |
| Pertussis | 147,271 (1922) | 6,279 | 95.7 |
| Tetanus | 1,314 (1922) | 34 | 97.4 |
| Paralytic poliomyelitis | 16,316 (1952) | 0 | 100 |
| Measles | 503,282 (1958) | 89 | 99.8 |
| Mumps | 152,209 (1968) | 606 | 99.6 |
| Rubella | 47,745 (1967) | 345 | 99.3 |
| H. influenzae type B | 20,000 (1985) | 54 | 99.7 |
a
Data are from reference 20.