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High measles mortality in infancy related to intensity of exposure.

In a West African urban community, measles infection in infants was examined over 5 years (1979-1983). In the age group 0 to 11 months, measles mortality was higher among secondary cases (infected in the house) than among index cases (infected outside the house), and the proportion of secondary cases was significantly higher for this age group than for older children. Intensive exposure related to the social pattern of disease transmission may be important in explaining the high infant mortality observed with measles in developing countries. Mortality during the first 12 months of life increased with age, presumably because of the decrease of maternally derived measles antibodies. In children younger than 6 months of age, who are usually considered to be protected by maternal antibody, intensive exposure may lead to infection, as demonstrated by a high level of measles-specific antibodies in some children exposed to an older sibling with measles. The aim of public health policies should be to change conditions of exposure.

Antibodies, Viral↗

Measles and atopy in Guinea-Bissau.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies have led to speculation that infections in early childhood may prevent allergic sensitisation but evidence to support this hypothesis is lacking. We investigated whether measles infection protects against the development of atopy in children of Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. METHODS: We conducted a historical cohort study in Bandim, a semi-rural district of Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau. 395 young adults, first surveyed in 1978-80 aged 0-6 years, were followed up in 1994. Our analyses were restricted to 262 individuals still living in Bandim for whom a measles history, documented in childhood, was judged to be reliable. We defined atopy as skin-prick test positivity (> or = 3 mm weal) to one or more of seven allergens. FINDINGS: 17 (12.8 percent) of 133 participants who had had measles infection were atopic compared with 33 (25.6 percent) of 129 of those who had been vaccinated and not had measles (odds ratio, adjusted for potential confounding variables 0.36 [95 percent CI 0.17-0.78], p=O.O1). Participants who had been breastfed for more than a year were less likely to have a positive skin test to housedust mite. After adjustment for breastfeeding and other variables, measles infection was associated with a large reduction in the risk of skin-prick test positivity to housedust mite (odds ratio for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus 0.20 [0.05-0.81], p=0.02; D farinae 0.20 [0.06-0.71], p=0.01). INTERPRETATION: Measles infection may prevent the development of atopy in African children.

Allergens↗

Acute renal failure with neurological involvement in adults associated with measles virus isolation.

BACKGROUND: Three people with clinical manifestations of acute renal failure with neurological involvement of unknown cause were admitted to a hospital in Mumbai, India. We describe clinical presentations and investigations of the cause. METHODS: We analysed case reports and laboratory findings for the patients (age 37-43 years, two men, one woman) that were provided by the clinicians in charge. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid were tested for viral cause by IgM ELISA to Japanese encephalitis, West Nile fever, dengue, and measles. Samples were inoculated in vero-cell culture for virus isolation. The virus isolates were confirmed with indirect immunofluoresence with antimeasles immune sera and mouse monoclonal antibodies to measles HA and F proteins and with neutralisation tests using antimeasles immune sera. FINDINGS: Clinical features were fever, vomiting, oliguria or anuria, bilateral facial weakness, impaired hearing, blindness, proximal and distal areflexic limb paralysis, and respiratory paralysis. No patient had a macropapular rash. Blood urea nitrogen (4.64-27.8 mmol/L) and creatinine (601.1-1105.0 micromol/L) were high, and cerebrospinal fluid contained high concentrations of proteins and pleocytosis. Kidney biopsy samples in two patients showed severe interstitial nephritis. IgM antibodies to measles were found in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Vero-cell cultures from serum and cerebrospinal fluid of one patient and cerebrospinal fluid of two patients, showed cytopathic effects characteristic of measles. INTERPRETATION: Unusual manifestations of acute renal failure with neurological involvement associated with measles virus in adults presenting without rash was confirmed. Our findings may affect the development of measles-elimination programmes.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

The difficult quest for data on "vanishing" vaccine-preventable infections in Europe: the case of measles in Flanders (Belgium).

We aimed to describe the impact of vaccination on the epidemiology of measles infection in Flanders (Belgium), to document probable vaccination coverage based on this evidence, compare these epidemiological data with those generated by a mathematical model and estimate the costs of morbidity from measles. In contrast to previous analyses, we included the costs of long-term care for sequelae due to encephalitis and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). We estimated the direct health care costs per average measles case at 227, 212, 210, 200 and 194 for the age groups of 0-4, 5-9, 10-14, 15-19 and > or=20 years, respectively. Excluding long-term care lowers these estimates by 22-51%, depending on the age group. By including indirect time costs, we arrive at total costs per measles case of 320, 305, 210, 200 and 625, respectively. In addition to registering vaccination coverage more rigorously in the future, it seems necessary to undertake seroprevalence studies to document the age-specific immunity to measles. By using such information, current vaccination strategies can be adapted to prevent future outbreaks and to help eliminate measles from Europe in an efficient way. We noted throughout that many of the data sources are flawed. Better and accessible data bases are required to improve the reliability of similar studies in the future.

Adolescent↗

Maternal measles antibody decay in rural Bangladeshi infants--implications for vaccination schedules.

Considerable numbers of measles cases occur below the target age for vaccination in the Indian sub-continent. The immunogenicity of measles vaccine in infancy is dependent on the rate of decay in maternal antibody since this antibody interferes with vaccine induced seroconversion. This study investigated maternal antibody decay in a rural population in Bangladesh and evaluated possible risk factors for early decay. Measles antibodies were assessed using both ELISA and Plaque Reduction Neutralization (PRN) test in 330 infant-mother pairs in a cross-sectional survey. PRN was more sensitive method than ELISA for determining antibody levels. Antibody levels decreased rapidly in infants with increasing age. By the age of 5 months, 67% (28/42) infants had practically no protective antibody left (30 mIU ml-1 or below). Only 12% infants at 5 months of age, and 5% at 8 months, had levels greater than 120 mIU ml-1--stated to 'protect' children. Multiple regression showed that maternal age was the only variable associated with the level of antibody (maternal weight, height and MUAC were not associated), decreasing by 1.06 mIU ml-1 for each year of age (P = 0.002). Infant's antibody concentration decreased with age by an average 2 mIU mL-1 for every month of life (P < 0.0001), and was determined by the maternal antibody concentration (P < 0.0001) (child's length, weight, MUAC, mother's gestational age and parity were not associated). The relatively rapid antibody decay suggests that the target age for measles vaccination might be reduced. Further, as the cohort of vaccinated mothers enters reproductive age in Bangladesh, a more rapid decay of antibody may be expected in future generations of Bangladeshi children. The information presented here suggests that a formal trial of standard measles vaccine at younger ages is justified in this population as it could confer considerable benefit in reducing infant measles.

Adult↗

Outbreak of measles in a teenage school population: the need to immunize susceptible adolescents.

An outbreak of measles occurred in a community school and the surrounding area in Crowborough, East Sussex, UK, from December 1992 to February 1993. There were 96 suspected cases reported: 66 cases among 1673 students at one school and 30 community cases. The majority of suspected cases were in those aged 11-17 (78%), 2 cases occurred in infants < 1 year old and 8 cases in adults aged 18 years or over. Data collected on 60 (91%) of the 66 suspect school cases showed 56 (93%) had an illness which met a case definition of measles. Eighteen had confirmatory IgM measles antibody. Two cases were hospitalized. The local percentage uptake for measles immunization for the school age years affected varied between 64% and 84%. A survey of parents showed that approximately 74% of the students attending the school had a history of measles immunization. The immunization rates reported by parents for children who developed measles was 21%, (29% based on GP records) compared with 77% for those who remained well. Vaccine efficacy was estimated to be 92%. This outbreak, along with others recently reported in older unimmunized children in the UK, reinforces the need for catch-up immunization programmes to reach this susceptible group of adolescents.

Adolescent↗

Measles vaccine efficacy during an outbreak in a highly vaccinated population: incremental increase in protection with age at vaccination up to 18 months.

During a large measles outbreak in Quebec City in 1989, two investigations conducted in parallel evaluated the relative risk of measles and measles vaccine effectiveness with respect to age at vaccination. The study was a school-based case-control study including 563 cases and 1126 classmate controls. The second was a cohort study of the siblings of school cases including 493 siblings aged between 1 and 19 years. The relative risks (RR) of measles were similar in both settings and the trend towards increased vaccine efficacy with increasing age at vaccination was highly significant (P < 0.001). Vaccine efficacy rose from 85% in children vaccinated at 12 months of age to > or = 94% in those vaccinated at 15 months and older. Even for children vaccinated at or after 18 months of age, the RR of measles was reduced when compared with children vaccinated between 15 and 17 months of age (RR 0.61, CI 95% 0.33-1.15). Small changes in the timing of initial measles vaccination can have a major impact on vaccine efficacy.

Age Distribution↗

The impact of Australia's measles control programme over the past decade.

We reviewed measles surveillance data for 1993-2002 to determine the impact of Australia's measles control initiatives. The introduction of a second dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine for 10- to 16-year-olds in 1993 was followed by marked reductions in measles notifications and hospitalizations, especially in the targeted age group. Further rate reductions were achieved following the Measles Control Campaign (MCC) in 1998, which involved a catch-up campaign for primary-school-aged children and lowering the age for the second dose of MMR vaccine to 4 years. Since the MCC, outbreaks have continued to occur, but most had a source case who was infected overseas, which suggests that indigenous transmission has been interrupted. In addition, a greater proportion of cases have been in adults although infants aged < 5 years still had the highest rates. In conclusion, Australia is making good progress towards measles elimination. However, as in other countries, this progress can be sustained only by maintaining high vaccination coverage with the routine childhood vaccination schedule.

Adolescent↗

Modelling vaccination programmes against measles in Taiwan.

Vaccination has proved a powerful defence against measles. We reappraise measles seroepidemiological data in Taiwan from 1974 to 2004 having robust age-stratified serological information on exposure and immunity to quantitatively characterize measles vaccination programmes. We dynamically model measles seroepidemiology to estimate age-dependent intensity of infection associated with the effects of different contact patterns on pre- and post-vaccination. The WAIFM (who acquires infection from whom) contact matrix is employed to describe the transmission between and within each age group. A deterministic SEIR (susceptible-exposed-infected-recovery) model is used to capture subpopulation dynamics. Our study shows that mass regional or nationwide vaccination programmes could greatly reduce the potential for a major measles epidemic and have strong direct effects on the potential impact of childhood vaccination. We parameterize a predictive model that should reduce the socio-economic costs of measles surveillance in Taiwan and thereby encourage its continuance, especially for preschool children.

Adolescent↗

Evaluation of the measles, mumps and rubella immunisation programme in Spain by using a sero-epidemiological survey.

In Spain, measles, mumps and rubella vaccination was introduced in 1981, with one dose at the age of 15 months and another at the age of 11 years being administered since 1995. Reported disease incidence was less than one case per 100,000 people for measles and rubella, and 23 cases per 100,000 people for mumps. A seroepidemiological survey was undertaken to estimate the frequency of susceptible individuals by age and environment; and vaccination coverage and efficacy of the vaccines administered. A population-based cross-sectional study was then conducted, covering the population aged 2-39 years, residing in Spain (excluding Catalonia). The sample was stratified by age and rural/ urban environment and informed consent obtained to take blood specimens from subjects attending blood-extraction centres. The final sample totalled 3,932 persons. IgG antibodies were detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Estimated vaccination coverage was 96% for children aged 2-5 years; vaccine efficacies were 96.7% for measles, 97.2% for rubella and 79.3% for mumps. Immunity was the lowest in the 6-9 year age group for measles (90.8%) and in males aged between 15 and 24 years for rubella (86 and 89.8%, respectively). In the case of mumps, this proved the lowest in the 2-5 year age group (76.7%) and in those autonomous regions in which only the Rubini strain had been administered. The incidence of measles has enabled the National Measles Elimination Plan to be implemented by which the elimination of congenital rubella syndrome could now be initiated. A possible explanation for the higher susceptibility observed for mumps might lie in the Rubini strain's low efficacy.

Adolescent↗

Measles vaccination before nine months.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the protective effect of measles vaccine administered before 9 months of age and compare overall mortality of children vaccinated at 6-8 months and at 9-11 months. METHOD: Non-concurrent cohort study involving all 13 134 children born between 16 January 1986 and 31st December 1991 in Kaniyambadi block near Vellore who had not left the area by six months of age. Main outcome measures were risk of disease and death among the under-five-year-olds according to age at measles immunization. RESULTS: Unimmunized children had a higher risk of developing measles compared to the immunized (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in risk of measles among those vaccinated prior to and after nine months of age. Unvaccinated children were at significantly higher risk of death than vaccinated children (P < 0.001). There was no difference in risk of death between infants vaccinated between 6 and 8 months and those vaccinated between 9 and 11 months. There was no difference in the risk of death between boys and girls vaccinated between 6 and 8 months with standard-titre Edmonston-Zagreb vaccine. CONCLUSION: Administration of standard-titre Edmonston-Zagreb measles vaccine at 6-8 months is an effective and safe preventive measure for measles, especially where the age-specific attack rate for children < 9 months is high.

Age Distribution↗

[Surveillance of measles in Germany].

In Germany, as in the entire WHO Region Europe, the goal has been set to eliminate measles by the year 2007. In order to achieve this, high vaccination rates of >/= 95 % are necessary as well as an intensive surveillance consisting of a continuous record of the age and region-specific incidence, vaccination rates and the seroprevalence. Data on the vaccination status, recorded in the districts at the time of school entry, are collected centrally and evaluated at the RKI since 1998. The vaccination rate for the 1(st) dose against measles is on the average 84.6 % and for the 2(nd) dose 14.3 %. A nationwide sentinel established in 1999 with over 1200 medical practitioners permits an estimate of the country-wide measles incidence on the basis of the registered measles cases. Results from the year 2000 showed a very big difference between the old Federal States (mean incidence of 46.8 illness per 100 000) and the new Federal States (0.9 per 100 000). Most of those falling sick were unvaccinated (85.4 %), where 35 % refused the vaccination. Thirty-nine percent of the cases were examined in the laboratory and from these 58 % were clinically confirmed; 10 % of the cases occurred in those receiving one dose of vaccine and none in those receiving 2 doses. The age peak of the sick children was between 1 to 4 years of age. Measles notification is obligatory in Germany since January 2001. From these data, the incidence of the 1(st) quarter has been calculated. It varies widely depending on the State (e. g. Bavaria 5.7 / 100.000 vs < 0.5 % in new Federal States). The seroprevalance studies conducted in 1993 and in 1995/96 show large gaps in immunity of small children and suggests that the MMR vaccination may have been carried out too late. The elimination of measles in Germany can only be achieved if the vaccination rates are increased and the 1(st) MMR vaccination is performed as early as possible. In particular, the vaccination rates for the 2(nd) dose are inadequate to be able to reach those with vaccine failures in a greater proportion and to close the gaps of vaccination.

Adolescent↗

Patterns of transmission in measles outbreaks in the United States, 1985-1986.

Since the licensing of measles vaccine in 1963, the incidence of reported measles in the United States has declined to less than 2 percent of previous levels. To characterize the current epidemiology of measles in the United States, we analyzed measles outbreaks that occurred during 1985 and 1986. There were 152 outbreaks (defined as five or more cases related epidemiologically), which accounted for 88 percent of the cases reported during those two years. There were two major types of outbreaks: those in which most of the cases occurred among preschool-age children (those under 5 years of age) (26 percent) and those in which most of the cases occurred among school-age persons (those 5 to 19 years of age) (67 percent). The outbreaks among preschool-age children ranged in size from 5 to 945 cases (median, 13); a median of only 14 percent of the cases occurred in vaccinated persons, and a median of 45 percent of the cases were classified as preventable according to the current strategy. Outbreaks among school-age persons ranged in size from 5 to 363 cases (median, 25); a median of 60 percent of the cases occurred in vaccinated persons, and a median of only 27 percent of the cases were preventable. The outbreaks among preschool-age children indicate deficiencies in the implementation of the national measles-elimination strategy. However, the extent of measles transmission among highly vaccinated school-age populations suggests that additional strategies, such as selective or mass revaccination, may be necessary to prevent such outbreaks.

Adolescent↗

Differential HLA gene expression in measles vaccine seropositive and seronegative subjects: a pilot study.

This is the first study using GeneChip technology to elucidate genetic determinants of the measles vaccine response. A comparative gene expression study was conducted using Affymetrix's Human GeneChip U-95A in 5 human subjects immunized with a 'booster' dose of measles vaccine (Attenuax, Merck) to determine whether serologically distinct subjects exhibit differential expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes. Healthy individuals aged 15-25 y, previously immunized with 2 doses of measles-mumps-rubella-II (MMR-II) vaccine, were classified as measles vaccine immunoglobulin G-specific antibody seronegatives (n = 2) and seropositives (n = 3). Changes in expression of HLA genes in seronegatives and seropositives were studied on days 7 and 14 post-measles vaccination using Microarray Suite 5.0 (MAS 5.0). There was increased expression of the HLA class I-B (p = 0.0002), HLA class II cluster of DMA, DMB, TAP1, TAP2 (p = 0.0007) and HLA-DR (p = 0.0001) genes, and decreased expression of HLA class I MICB molecule (p = 1), HLA class I-A (p = 0.9999) and major histocompatibility complex class III HSP 70 (p = 0.9999) genes on day 7 or day 14 postvaccination in seropositives compared with seronegatives. These results suggest an association between antibody response and differential HLA gene activation and may explain one potential mechanism underlying measles vaccine non-response.

Adolescent↗

Measles vaccination coverage during poliomyelitis national immunization days in Burkina Faso, 1999.

In 1999, Burkina Faso added measles vaccine during the second round of its poliomyelitis national immunization days (NIDs). A cluster survey was conducted in each of the country's 53 health districts to assess vaccination coverage achieved by the campaign. Forty-four percent of children aged 9-59 months had a documented prior measles vaccination, and 88% were vaccinated during NIDs. Eighty-five percent of children not previously vaccinated received measles vaccine during the campaign. Although routine vaccination coverage varied substantially among children from various socioeconomic groups, the campaign appeared to almost equally reach all groups of children surveyed. Poliovirus vaccine coverage was 90% when measles vaccine was added to the campaign, compared with 88% during the first round. In Burkina Faso, the addition of measles vaccine to poliomyelitis NIDs achieved greater equity in measles vaccination coverage according to a number of socioeconomic factors without compromising the coverage of poliovirus vaccination.

Burkina Faso↗

Update on the global distribution of genotypes of wild type measles viruses.

Molecular characterization of measles viruses is an important component of measles surveillance because these studies enhance our ability to identify the source and transmission pathways of the virus. Molecular surveillance is most beneficial when it is possible to observe the change in virus genotypes over time in a particular region. Such information can help to document the interruption of transmission of measles virus and thus provide an important method for assessing the effectiveness of vaccination programs. It is recommended that virus surveillance be conducted during all phases of measles control and be expanded to give an accurate description of the global distribution of measles genotypes. This review provides updated information on the circulation patterns of measles genotypes and examples of the utility of virologic surveillance.

Genetic Variation↗

Measles-rubella mass immunization campaign in Albania, November 2000.

In 2000, Albania resolved to eliminate measles by 2007 by use of a four-step program: by conducting a "catch-up" vaccination campaign for all children aged 1-14 years, achieving and sustaining high coverage (>/=95%) among children aged 1 year with the first dose of a measles-containing vaccine, by introducing a routine second dose of measles-containing vaccine for children at age 5 years, and by improving measles surveillance. This catch-up campaign took place in November 2000: 867,000 doses of measles-rubella vaccine were administered for an estimated coverage of 99%. In all, 231 campaign-related adverse events were reported: syncope, 206; allergic reactions, 10; fever, 8; encephalitis/encephalopathy, 2; and aseptic meningitis, seizures, Guillain-Barré syndrome, anaphylaxis, and arthralgia, 1 each. All resolved without sequelae. This report describes the status of measles and rubella/congenital rubella syndrome control in Albania before 2000 and reports on implementation of the catch-up campaign.

Adolescent↗

Impact of nationwide measles vaccination campaign among children aged 9 months to 14 years, Zimbabwe, 1998-2001.

Zimbabwe (population 11,365,000) introduced nationwide one-dose measles vaccination in 1981. This strategy reached 70%-80% of infants <1 year of age over the next two decades; in 1998, a nationwide supplemental immunization activity (SIA) targeting all children aged 9 months to 14 years achieved 93% coverage. Surveillance data were examined to determine the impact of these strategies. During 1985-1997, there were 8529-49,812 measles cases annually. After the SIA, laboratory confirmation of the first 5 outbreak cases and all sporadic cases was required. In 1999 and 2000, 1343 (88%) of 1534 suspected cases had adequate specimens submitted and 28 (2%) were measles IgM positive. In 2001, of 529 suspected cases, 513 (97%) had adequate specimens and only 7 (1%) were measles IgM positive. These data suggest that indigenous measles transmission in Zimbabwe has been interrupted and that high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus seropositivity does not hinder vaccination-induced measles control. High vaccination coverage obtained through the routine health care system supplemented by periodic follow-up SIAs will be required to maintain low transmission levels.

Adolescent↗