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PubMed2002

Low mortality after mild measles infection compared to uninfected children in rural West Africa.

BACKGROUND: It has been assumed that measles infection may be associated with persistent immune suppression and long-term excess mortality. However, few community studies of mortality after measles infection have been carried out. We examined long-term mortality for measles cases, sub-clinical measles cases, and uninfected contacts after an epidemic in rural Senegal. METHODS: The study was carried out in Niakhar, a rural area of Senegal. Index cases of measles were identified and children less than 7 years of age exposed to measles in the same compound had acute and convalescent blood samples collected. Clinically diagnosed measles cases were serologically confirmed. Children without clinical symptoms were classified as sub-clinical cases if they had a four-fold or greater change in antibody levels between samples collected at exposure and 1 month later and as uninfected if there was no or a two-fold change in antibody levels. RESULTS: There were 31 index cases, and among 184 exposed contacts, 35 (19%) children developed clinical measles. Among contacts that did not develop clinical measles, 45% had sub-clinical infection. Measles cases, sub-clinical cases, and uninfected contacts did not differ with respect to nutritional status. However, uninfected children without clinical symptoms and change in antibody level had higher initial measles specific IgG antibody levels and less intensive exposure to the index case. No index or secondary case of measles died in the acute phase of infection nor did any of the children exposed to measles die in the first 2 months after exposure. Exposed children developing clinical measles had lower age-adjusted mortality over the next 4 years than exposed children who did not develop clinical measles (P<0.05). Sub-clinical measles cases tended to have low mortality and compared with uninfected children, exposed children with clinical or sub-clinical measles had lower age-adjusted mortality (mortality ratio (MR)=0.20 (0.06-0.74)). Controlling for background factors had no impact of the estimates. CONCLUSIONS: When measles infection is mild, clinical measles has no long-term excess mortality and may be associated with better overall survival than no clinical measles infection. Sub-clinical measles is common among immunised children and is not associated with excess mortality.

Child↗
PubMed2003

Antibody response after measles immunization.

RATIONALE: Measles is still an important public health problem in Thailand despite measles vaccination being practiced since 1984. Vaccine failure is one of the suspected reasons for the high incidence of measles. OBJECTIVE: To study the seroconversion rate of 9-month-old infants and to study the antibody level in 18 month-old and 4 year-old children who had measles vaccination at 9 months of age. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Enrolled infants and children who attended the child health clinic for routine immunization at the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health from March 1, 1994 to May 31, 1995. They were divided into 3 groups. Group A, 9 month-old infants who came for measles vaccination. Blood samples were drawn twice from these infants, before measles vaccination and 3 months later for measles antibody level. Group B and C were 18 month-old and 4-year-old children who came for their first and second DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis vaccine) booster. One blood sample for measles antibody was drawn from the latter group of children. Measles antibody was determined by micro-neutralization technic at the National Institute of Health (NIH). The geometric mean antibody titer before and after measles vaccination was compared by using the paired t-test. RESULTS: There were 30, 31 and 34 infants/children in group A, B and C respectively. No significant measles antibody (NT antibody was less than 1:4) was detected in 93.5 per cent of 9-month-old infants. The seroconversion rate at 3 months after vaccination in group A children was 68.75 per cent while in group B, 9 months after vaccination it was 53.3 per cent. Ninety seven per cent of children in group C had NT antibody above 1:4. The geometric mean titer (GMT) of measles antibody in 9-month (before vaccination), 12-month, 18-month infants and 4 year old children was 1:2.5; 1:14.8, 1:8.2 and 1:73.8, respectively (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Almost 70 per cent of vaccinees at 9 months of age had seroconversion to measles vaccine with GMT of 1:14.8 while fifty three per cent of 18 month old children had an average GMT of 1:8.2. The GMT of the two groups was significantly different (p < 0.05). At 4 years of age almost all the children had NT antibody to measles with a GMT of 1:73.8 (p < 0.05) Vaccine failure is likely to be one factor responsible for the high incidence of measles after the introduction of measles vaccine into the Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI). The authors suggest giving a booster dose of measles at 15 months of age to boost the antibody level before waning of measles antibody at 18 months old, in order to protect this group of children from contracting measles.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed2003

Trend of measles morbidity in Thailand.

RATIONALE: Measles is still an important public health problem in Thailand despite the high coverage of measles vaccination since 1984, and the second dose of measles vaccination in primary school children in 1991. OBJECTIVE: To study the trend of measles morbidity in Thai children. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Review of the Annual Epidemiological Surveillance Report of the Epidemiology Section, Department of Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), and hospital records of measle cases at the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health (QSNICH) (Bangkok Children's Hospital). Paired t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for data analysis in the present study. RESULTS: Before 1984, measles morbidity was very high, at the level of 52.3 to 93.67 per 100,000 population. After measles vaccine was included in the EPI (Expanded Program on Immunization), the morbidity fluctuated for some years, and the group of children infected with measles changed from under 5 years to the age group of 5-9 years old. So a second dose of measles vaccine was added to the EPI given to children in Prathom 1 (first year in primary school, 6 years old and over). After 4 years of adding the second dose of measles in the EPI, measles cases was still present in a significant number in both the under 5 and 5-9 age groups. From the statistics of measles cases at the QSNICH, with an average of 736 measles cases per year, the number of measles cases is now decreasing, but the incidence of measles is still high in both the under 5 and 5-9 age groups. CONCLUSION: According to the EPI in Thailand, children were given measles vaccine at the age of 9 months which is when seroconversion was significantly lower than immunization after one year of age. The trend of measles morbidity is decreasing, but is still high in children in the under 5 and 5-9 age groups. Vaccine failure may be one of the contributing factors of measles cases in children in these age groups. A booster dose of measles vaccine at 15-18 months old is suggested in order to increase the seroprotection in children in the under 5 and 5-9 age groups.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2005

Epidemiologic and clinical features of measles and rubella in a rural area in China.

BACKGROUND: Changes in the epidemiologic and clinical features of measles have resulted in diagnostic difficulties in distinguishing between measles and other rash and fever illnesses such as rubella. The objectives of this article are to report the true morbidity and epidemiologic and clinical features of measles and rubella, provide objective diagnostic indicators for distinguishing between the 2 diseases, and provide a time-efficient scientific basis for accurately evaluating the effectiveness of immunization with the measles vaccine and regulating the control strategies for measles in the rural areas of China in the cold chain era. METHODS: From 1992 to 2002, patients with measles and rubella were recorded and reported routinely in the rural disease surveillance spots of Jingzhou District, Hubei Province, by collecting their sera and testing for measles and rubella IgM and IgG antibodies. RESULTS: Over the 11-year study period, 146 cases of measles were reported in the disease surveillance spots. The annual incidence of measles was highest in 1999 (118.8/100,000 population). The incidence of measles in the 4-6 and 7-15 year old age groups were higher than in other age groups. During 5 outbreaks of measles, a total of 128 cases were reported, accounting for 87.7% of the total number of measles cases. A total of 566 rubella cases were reported, with 3 epidemic peaks (in 1992, 1997 and 2002). The incidence of rubella in the 4-6 and 7-15 year old age groups were higher than in other age groups. There were 13 outbreaks of rubella, with 547 cases being reported, accounting for 96.6% of the total number of rubella cases. Accuracy of the clinical diagnosis of measles was 40%, while it was 100% for rubella. The proportions of patients who had a moderate to high fever (> or = 38.6 degrees C) in the measles group (89.5%) and the combined infection (both measles and rubella) group (90%) were significantly higher than that of the rubella group (30.6%). The proportions of patients whose prodromal stage lasted > or = 3 days in the former 2 groups (68.4% and 95%, respectively) were significantly higher than that of the rubella group (16.7%). The proportions of patients whose exanthema lasted > or = 4 days in the former 2 groups (78.9% and 75%, respectively) were significantly higher than that of the rubella group (26.9%). CONCLUSION: Measles and rubella are 2 common communicable diseases in the children of Jingzhou District, with outbreaks being the main epidemic form. Some clinical features such as temperature, duration of the prodromal stage and exanthema are different in measles and rubella, and they can be useful in distinguishing between the 2 diseases. Accuracy in the clinical diagnosis of measles should be improved by enhancing serologic testing for measles and rubella, and by identifying patients' specific clinical characteristics.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Measles vaccination and inflammatory bowel disease: controversy laid to rest?

The increasing incidence of Crohn's disease has lead to speculation about changes in exposures to environmental or infectious agents. Considerable attention has focused on the role of measles infection and/or vaccination in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Current evidence regarding the association between measles vaccination and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) comprises analytic epidemiological studies, a case-series report and ecological studies. The first of these, a 1995 cohort study, found an association between measles vaccination and Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, but was widely questioned on methodological grounds. This was followed by a 1997 case-control study showing no association between measles vaccination and IBD. In 1998, public concern was rekindled by a report of 12 children with nonspecific colitis, ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, and developmental disorders largely attributed to measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, but the nature of the report limited its scientific conclusions. Two additional studies, one case-control and one cohort, then followed and neither found an association with measles vaccination. Of the several ecological studies of measles vaccine coverage or measles schedule changes, none found an association with rates of IBD. The role of measles infection in IBD has been examined more extensively with studies of in utero measles exposure, measles infection early in life, and laboratory based investigations. An initial report of high rates of Crohn's disease among pregnancies affected by measles infection was followed by negative studies. Numerous case-control and ecological studies of children with measles infections early in life have also had discordant findings. Of three recent cohort studies, two showed no relationship between infection with early measles exposure and risk for IBD, while one found an approximate 3-fold elevation in risk. Laboratory investigations into persistent measles infection and IBD have been contentious. While some investigators have claimed to find persistent measles infection among patients with IBD, others, using highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction techniques, have not been able to replicate the findings. Recent controversy has centred on whether there is any evidence for molecular mimicry in the pathogenesis of IBD. In summary, available evidence does not support an association between measles-containing vaccines and risk of IBD, nor between measles infection and IBD. While further research is necessary into the causal factors underlying Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, continued public education efforts are needed to reassure the public about vaccine safety and to prevent declines in vaccine coverage.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Isolation of measles virus from a naturally-immune, asymptomatically re-infected individual.

BACKGROUND: The changing epidemiology of measles with mild measles cases increasingly being recognised in previously-vaccinated individuals, suggests that more asymptomatic or subclinical cases might be occurring. Although this has been clearly documented in previously-vaccinated individuals, the frequency of these asymptomatic infections in individuals previously naturally-infected with measles is not known. Also, it is not known whether these asymptomatic or mildly-infected individuals who do not display the full range of clinical signs of measles are capable of transmitting the virus to other susceptible persons. OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the isolation of measles virus (MV) from previously, naturally-immune individuals asymptomatically infected with measles while in close contact with acutely infected family members and to document the secondary immune responses (SIR) associated with asymptomatic measles infection. STUDY DESIGN: Throat swab and urine specimens from five acute measles cases and their family contacts, taken within 5 days of onset of rash in each acute case, were used to isolate MV by tissue culture. Positive tissue culture results were confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence (IF) staining. Measles specific antibodies (IgG and IgM), IgG urea avidity and measles-neutralising antibodies were measured in the one family (index family) where an asymptomatic measles infection of a contact was demonstrated. RESULTS: The acutely infected patient in the index family (T1/96) had a measles-neutralising antibody titre of < 1:10, measles IgG urea avidity of 24% and MV was isolated and confirmed by IF from urine and throat swab specimens. T1/96 represents acute measles infection after primary vaccine failure because he had a clear history of being vaccinated against measles as a child. MV was also successfully isolated from throat swab and urine specimens from the other four acute cases and from the urine but not the throat swab of an asymptomatically infected family contact in the index family (mother, T2/96). T2/96 had a history of natural measles infection as a child approximately 50 years ago. In addition to detectable MV in urine this contact also had a SIR with a rise in measles specific neutralising antibody titre. No virus was isolated from the other contact in the index family (father, T3/96) or from the contacts of the other four acute cases examined. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of a confirmed asymptomatic MV infection, by MV isolation and IF testing and a concurrent SIR, in a previously naturally-immune contact of an acute case. The importance of these findings to the epidemiology and control of MV as well as the diagnostic value of MV urine isolation and IF confirmation for mild or asymptomatic cases must be examined further.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Control measures and the outcome of the measles epidemic of 1999 in the Eastern Highlands Province.

In the Eastern Highlands Province (EHP) of Papua New Guinea (PNG) measles outbreaks have occurred regularly every 3 to 4 years since 1980. The latest was between September 1998 and March 2000. Between July 1999 and March 2000 314 children with measles were reviewed at Goroka Base Hospital. The majority of these children were very young: 55% were under 1 year and 27% under 6 months. The median age of the measles cases was 11 months (range 10 days to 13 years). 40% of the children had a verifiable history of having received at least one dose of measles vaccine. The majority were vaccinated during the epidemic and included many children who either were below 6 months of age or who developed measles within 2 weeks of vaccination. Measles complications occurred in 82% of the children, the most common being pneumonia. Serious complications, particularly severe pneumonia, were more common among the unvaccinated children than in those who had received at least a single dose of the measles vaccine. No deaths occurred among 82 children who had received measles vaccine more than 2 weeks before the onset of clinical measles, compared with 10 deaths in 206 children who had never been vaccinated against measles or were vaccinated in the 2 weeks before presentation (p=0.067). The overall case fatality was 4%: 14% among the hospital-acquired and 2.5% in community-acquired measles. Improvement in the measles vaccination coverage and supplementary vaccination campaigns are required to prevent measles outbreaks in PNG. Intensified measles vaccination campaigns, such as the one conducted in EHP in 1999, are recommended during epidemics to minimize deaths due to measles and to rapidly control outbreaks. The efficacy of measles vaccination can only be measured in total mortality, not in the prevention of clinical measles.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

The challenge of improving the efficacy of measles vaccine.

Despite a safe and effective measles vaccine, measles still claims an estimated 800,000 lives per year mostly among children in developing countries. This paper deals with strategies to improve vaccine efficacy and prevent unnecessary deaths, including considerations of one dose at 9 months strategy for developing countries, strain of vaccine, potency and number of doses of measles vaccine. After more than 20 years of measles immunisation in the developing world, the epidemiology of measles is radically changed, and the absence of measles epidemics might lead to waning immunity due to less clinical and subclinical infections boosting the antibody level. An increasing proportion of mothers are vaccinated, thus transferring a lower maternal antibody level to their infants who will be susceptible to measles at a younger age. The strategies to limit nosocomial measles infection and spread of measles epidemics are reviewed. Though the measles elimination programmes have been very effective in the Americas, it seems unlikely that they will be equally effective in the rest of the world. Even if eradication should be possible, it might be unwise to stop measles vaccination because the vaccine apparently has beneficial effects and because it would make measles a likely weapon for bio-terrorism. If we are unlikely to get rid of measles and measles vaccine, it might be wise to study further some of the many unanswered questions regarding the long-term effects of measles and measles vaccination.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2001

The frailty hypothesis revisited: mainly weak children die of measles.

It has been suggested that measles infection mainly kills frail children who are likely to die anyhow of other infections. If that were true, the proportion of frail children should increase after the introduction of measles vaccination and post-measles mortality compared with mortality in uninfected children should increase when the case fatality declines and frail children are no longer dying of measles. The latter deduction was investigated in Niakhar, Senegal, where the measles case fatality has declined markedly. Measles has been studied in Niakhar during 12 years from 1983 to 1994. We compared long-term mortality after measles infection in periods with both high and low case fatality. The acute measles case fatality rate (CFR) declined from 6.5% in 1983-1986 to 1.5% in 1987-1994, an age-adjusted decline of 66% (RR=0.34 (0.19-0.58)). Between 1983-1986 and 1987-1994, mortality in the first year after measles infection declined by 35% (RR=0.65 (0.37-1.16)), the pattern being the same in the second and third year after infection (RR=0.63 (0.33-1.21)). This reduction could not be related to introduction of immunization, treatment of measles with Vitamin A, or prophylactic use of antibiotics. Controlling for age, immunization, and season, the decline in post-measles mortality was similar to the fall in non-measles-related mortality between the two periods (mortality rate ratio=0.72 (0.64-0.80)). Since the mortality decline in survivors of measles was as large as the decline in mortality among uninfected children, reduction in acute measles mortality did not lead to accumulation of frail children. We doubt measles infection ever eliminated mainly weak children; it always killed a broad spectrum of children, most of whom were "fit to survive". Hence, it seems unlikely that measles vaccination has contributed to the survival of more frail children.

Child↗
PubMed1999

Implications of the human immunodeficiency virus epidemic for control and eradication of measles.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons may be important, unrecognized transmitters of measles virus, thwarting eradication efforts. We reviewed the published English-language literature on measles and measles immunization in HIV-infected persons to investigate the clinical features of measles, the responses to measles immunization, and the safety of measles vaccine in HIV-infected persons and, conversely, the effect of measles and measles immunization on HIV infection. HIV-infected persons with measles are likely to have uncharacteristic clinical findings and severe illness, with high rates of pneumonitis and death. Primary and secondary failure of measles vaccine in HIV-infected children may permit transmission of measles virus in spite of high rates of immunization coverage. A factor that complicates measles-control efforts in areas of high prevalence of HIV is the potential for fatal infection with measles vaccine virus. Further research on the impact of the HIV epidemic on measles and measles immunization is necessary to guide strategies for the eradication of measles.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Public-health impact of accelerated measles control in the WHO African Region 2000-03.

BACKGROUND: In 2000, the WHO African Region adopted a plan to accelerate efforts to lower measles mortality with the goal of decreasing the number of measles deaths to near zero. By June, 2003, 19 African countries had completed measles supplemental immunisation activities (SIA) in children aged 9 months to 14 years as part of a comprehensive measles-control strategy. We assessed the public-health impact of these control measures by use of available surveillance data. METHODS: We calculated percentage decline in reported measles cases during 1-2 years after SIA, compared with 6 years before SIA. On the basis of data from 13 of the 19 countries, we assumed that the percentage decline in measles deaths equalled that in measles cases. We also examined data on routine and SIA measles vaccine coverage, measles case-based surveillance, and suspected measles outbreaks. FINDINGS: Between 2000 and June, 2003, 82.1 million children were targeted for vaccination during initial SIA in 12 countries and follow-up SIA in seven countries. The average decline in the number of reported measles cases was 91%. In 17 of the 19 countries, measles case-based surveillance confirmed that transmission of measles virus, and therefore measles deaths, had been reduced to low or very low rates. The total estimated number of deaths averted in the year 2003 was 90,043. Between 2000 and 2003 in the African Region as a whole, we estimated that the percentage decline in annual measles deaths was around 20% (90,043 of 454,000). INTERPRETATION: The burden of measles in sub-Saharan Africa can be reduced to very low levels by means of appropriate strategies, resources, and personnel.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Review of regional measles surveillance data in the Americas, 1996-99.

BACKGROUND: In 1994, ministers of health of countries of North and South America established the goal of measles eradication from the western hemisphere by 2000. To accomplish this goal, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) developed an enhanced measles vaccination strategy. METHODS: PAHO's measles eradication vaccination strategy has evolved into three principal components; a catch-up measles vaccination campaign, maintenance of high vaccination coverage (keep-up), and periodic follow-up measles vaccination campaigns. To monitor progress towards measles eradication, measles surveillance has been strengthened, including the laboratory investigation of suspected measles cases. FINDINGS: Both the catch-up and follow-up mass campaigns achieved high vaccination coverages in the respective targeted age groups. In 1996, only 2109 confirmed measles cases were reported in the Americas. In 1997, there was a resurgence of measles in the Americas, mostly as a result of a large measles outbreak with over 42000 cases, which occurred mainly among unvaccinated young adults in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. By 1998, there was a reduction in the number of reported confirmed measles cases, with a total of 14474 cases. Reduction of cases continued to the end of 1999, with a total of only 2828 confirmed cases. INTERPRETATION: PAHO's measles eradication strategy has been effective in interrupting transmission and maintaining the absence of measles virus circulation in most parts of the Americas. The PAHO experience provides strong evidence that with full implementation of an appropriate vaccination strategy, measles transmission can be effectively interrupted.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Molecular epidemiology of measles virus in Kenya.

Measles causes significant morbidity and mortality globally. Many countries have embarked on immunization programs to control and prevent measles outbreaks and eventually to eliminate endemic measles. Kenya is currently in the outbreak control and prevention stage for measles. Measles virus genotyping is important for molecular epidemiological purposes, including the documentation of the elimination of endemic measles virus strains from a country, and mapping of transmission pathways. In this study, we collected clinical specimens from measles outbreak cases in 2002 in Kenya for measles virus genotyping. We were able to isolate and/or detect measles virus in 10 cases from 5 of the 8 provinces in Kenya. All these Kenyan measles strains were determined to be genotype D4 strains when compared to the standard World Health Organization-designated measles virus reference strains. Interestingly, the Kenyan D4 strains clustered into two distinct D4 subgroups. In addition, the inclusion of other published D4 measles strains in this analysis indicated that there are four distinct D4 clusterings, or subgroups: Montreal-like, India-like, Johannesburg-like, and Ethiopia-like. This is the first measles molecular epidemiology study in Kenya and establishes the current endemic measles strain as genotype D4. Importantly, this study shows that the Kenyan D4 strains are distinct from the B3 measles strain found in West Africa and the D4 strains reported in Ethiopia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2007

Unacceptably high mortality related to measles epidemics in Niger, Nigeria, and Chad.

BACKGROUND: Despite the comprehensive World Health Organization (WHO)/United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) measles mortality-reduction strategy and the Measles Initiative, a partnership of international organizations supporting measles mortality reduction in Africa, certain high-burden countries continue to face recurrent epidemics. To our knowledge, few recent studies have documented measles mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of our study was to investigate measles mortality in three recent epidemics in Niamey (Niger), N'Djamena (Chad), and Adamawa State (Nigeria). METHODS AND FINDINGS: We conducted three exhaustive household retrospective mortality surveys in one neighbourhood of each of the three affected areas: Boukoki, Niamey, Niger (April 2004, n = 26,795); Moursal, N'Djamena, Chad (June 2005, n = 21,812); and Dong District, Adamawa State, Nigeria (April 2005, n = 16,249), where n is the total surveyed population in each of the respective areas. Study populations included all persons resident for at least 2 wk prior to the study, a duration encompassing the measles incubation period. Heads of households provided information on measles cases, clinical outcomes up to 30 d after rash onset, and health-seeking behaviour during the epidemic. Measles cases and deaths were ascertained using standard WHO surveillance-case definitions. Our main outcome measures were measles attack rates (ARs) and case fatality ratios (CFRs) by age group, and descriptions of measles complications and health-seeking behaviour. Measles ARs were the highest in children under 5 y old (under 5 y): 17.1% in Boukoki, 17.2% in Moursal, and 24.3% in Dong District. CFRs in under 5-y-olds were 4.6%, 4.0%, and 10.8% in Boukoki, Moursal, and Dong District, respectively. In all sites, more than half of measles cases in children aged under 5 y experienced acute respiratory infection and/or diarrhoea in the 30 d following rash onset. Of measles cases, it was reported that 85.7% (979/1,142) of patients visited a health-care facility within 30 d after rash onset in Boukoki, 73.5% (519/706) in Moursal, and 52.8% (603/1,142) in Dong District. CONCLUSIONS: Children in these countries still face unacceptably high mortality from a completely preventable disease. While the successes of measles mortality-reduction strategies and progress observed in measles control in other countries of the region are laudable and evident, they should not overshadow the need for intensive efforts in countries that have just begun implementation of the WHO/UNICEF comprehensive strategy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

[Analysis of an adult measles outbreak in the eastern part of Ehime prefecture in Japan].

PURPOSE: An outbreak of adult measles occurring in the eastern part of Ehime prefecture in Japan was analyzed, and the future directions of measures against infectious diseases in public health centers was studied. METHOD: An outbreak of adult measles (in individuals more than 18 years old) occurred in the eastern part of Ehime prefecture between October 2002 and July 2003. During this outbreak, provisional surveillance of adult measles as well as pediatric measles (less than 18 years old) was performed by all clinics and hospitals in addition to that by The Ehime Epidemiological Surveillance of Infectious Diseases (sentinel surveillance). Furthermore, identification of viral genes was performed from pediatric and adult measles patient samples. RESULTS: 112 cases of measles in adults and 200 cases in children were reported in Ehime between October 2002 and July 2003, and the rates for the eastern part of the prefecture accounted for 89.7% and 94.1% respectively. The relation between the pediatric measles and adult measles could be followed by change in the outbreak number of patients week by week. The genotype of the measles viruses isolated was type H1, which is prevalent in China and Korea. The results of an epidemiological survey showed that 59.3% of adult and 84.1% of pediatric cases had not been vaccinated. The measles vaccination rates for adult and pediatric cases were 21.9% and 11.4%, respectively. While the number of measles cases detected by sentinel pediatric surveillance comprised 32.0% of the measles cases reported by all pediatricians, the figure for adult measles cases was only 11.6% of those reported by all clinics and hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: It was suggested that improvement in the vaccination rates and revaccination rates mainly among school children or young people is necessary to prevent measles outbreaks. The surveillance system must be strengthened to increase the number of sentinel hospitals because an outbreak may not be detected with the current approach, especially for measles among adults. Positive information exchange between public health centers and medical institutions also appear to be particularly important.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Immunity against measles in populations of women and infants in Poland.

During the 1997-1998 measles epidemic in Poland a high attack rate occurred in infants up to 1 year of age (24.6/100,000 in comparison with 5.5/100,000 in total population). Routine vaccination against measles for infants aged 13-15 months was introduced in Poland in 1975, and a second dose added in 1991. The recommended age for measles vaccination was based on information gathered in years when most mothers had a natural measles. Nowadays, many mothers have received measles vaccine. Early loss of passively acquired measles antibody may occur in infants of women who received measles vaccine, because measles vaccine induces lower antibody titres than does natural infection. Therefore, measles-specific antibody titres were determined among vaccinated and unvaccinated women as well as among infants, whose mothers were born after 1976 and likely were vaccinated (Group 1), and those, whose mothers were born before 1969 and likely have had a natural measles (Group 2). All women that were born in prevaccination era had significantly higher geometric mean titre (GMT) of measles antibody than those who were vaccinated (P<0.001). Also infants from Group 2 at every age had higher GMT of measles antibody than those of Group 1. The antibody decay was significantly faster among infants whose mothers acquired immunity by measles vaccination. Because nowadays the majority of women in childbearing age are vaccinated against measles, earlier vaccination in the infants should be considered.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1999

Timing and effectiveness of requirements for a second dose of measles vaccine.

OBJECTIVE: Previous measles elimination goals have failed in the United States despite high coverage of schoolchildren with a single dose of measles vaccine. Since 1989 advisory groups have recommended that schoolchildren receive a second dose of measles vaccine as part of a revised strategy to eliminate measles from the US. States have responded by phasing in requirements for a second dose of measles vaccine at school entry for various age groups at primary school entrance, secondary school entrance or both. The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of the requirements for a second dose of measles vaccine and to determine whether a primary or secondary school entrance requirement was more effective in lowering measles incidence. METHODS: Using national surveillance data we examined the influence of state requirements for the second dose of measles vaccine on measles incidence from 1993 through 1995. RESULTS: Overall measles incidence was lower in states that had a requirement for a second dose of measles vaccine at either primary school entrance [relative risk (RR) = 0.35; 95% confidence interval, 0.25 to 0.49] or secondary school entrance (RR = 0.38; 95% confidence interval 0.29 to 0.50), compared with states without a second dose requirement. Incidence was lowest in states that required a second dose of measles vaccine at both primary and secondary school entrance (RR = 0.22; 95% confidence interval, 0.13 to 0.37). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that a requirement for a second dose of measles vaccine at either primary or secondary school entrance is effective in lowering measles incidence, with a greater reduction occurring in states where the second dose is required for both age groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Measles vaccines: a review of adverse events.

A great deal of controversy has recently been generated over the publication of several articles implicating measles vaccine in the induction of Crohn's disease and autism. The publication of this work has already had a negative impact on measles vaccine acceptance in the UK. These allegations are particularly troubling because they arise in the context of increased use of measles vaccine as global control of measles nears and the international community considers strategies for a drive towards eradication. In 1994, the US Institute of Medicine reviewed the world literature and published a comprehensive review of adverse events associated with measles-containing vaccines. Reviewing the literature published between 1994 and the present day, reveals that there is considerable new data suggesting that modified gelatin rather than egg proteins is responsible for most episodes of anaphylaxis following measles vaccination. New work weakens the possible links between measles vaccine and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis and Guillain-Barré syndrome, but strengthens the rare association of measles-containing vaccines with post infectious encephalomyelitis. The alleged associations between measles vaccination and Crohn's disease and autism are based upon weak science and have largely been refuted by a large volume of stronger work. A review of the data generated in the last 4 years amply demonstrates the continued efforts of the scientific community to monitor and understand true measles vaccine-associated adverse events. The rapidity and clarity of this same community's debunking of the spurious associations with Crohn's disease and autism suggests that those charged with vaccination programmes have learned from past mistakes. During 30 years of worldwide use, measles vaccination has proven to be one of the safest and most successful health interventions in the history of mankind. It is not a 'perfect' vaccine, but the benefits of measles vaccination far outweigh the risks even in countries with low incidence of measles and high rates of measles vaccine coverage.

Child↗