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Krumova S, Santibanez S, Andonova I, Stefanova R, Mankertz A, Kantardjiev T. Detection of measles virus in Bulgaria from 2012 to 2018. Croat Med J 2022; 63. [PMID: 36325672 PMCID: PMC9648082 DOI: 10.3325/cmj.2022.63.475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM To determine the circulation patterns of measles virus in Bulgaria from 2012 to 2018 after a large measles outbreak in the country (2009-2011). METHODS Three types of clinical material were collected: serum samples, urine samples, and nasal swabs. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect specific viral immunoglobulin (Ig) M/IgG antibodies. Viral RNA was extracted from all urine and nasal swabs. RESULTS In the investigated period, 102 patients were confirmed to have measles (age range: two months to 55 years). A total of 101 samples (99%) were measles-IgM positive. Most of them were detected in 2017 (73%, 74/101), when a measles outbreak in the country was reported. The majority of patients were unvaccinated children aged under 13 months. Out of 101 measles serum samples confirmed by ELISA, 18 (20.45%) were measles-IgG positive and 15 (17.05%) were borderline. Thirty-three positive PCR products were sequenced and genotyped. In 2013, 2016, 2017, and 2018, three different measles viral genotypes were detected: D8, H1, and B3. Most patients were unvaccinated or insufficiently vaccinated. CONCLUSION Preventive measures are indispensable to limit the infection in different regions of Bulgaria and its spread to other countries. As vaccination coverage against measles and other vaccine-preventable infections, including SARS-Co2, is low, it is necessary to perform molecular identification of viruses to monitor their circulation and pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefka Krumova
- Department of Virology, National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Sabine Santibanez
- National Reference Center for Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ivona Andonova
- Department of Virology, National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Radostina Stefanova
- Department of Virology, National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Annette Mankertz
- National Reference Center for Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Todor Kantardjiev
- National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia, Bulgaria
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Fournet N, Mollema L, Ruijs WL, Harmsen IA, Keck F, Durand JY, Cunha MP, Wamsiedel M, Reis R, French J, Smit EG, Kitching A, van Steenbergen JE. Under-vaccinated groups in Europe and their beliefs, attitudes and reasons for non-vaccination; two systematic reviews. BMC Public Health 2018; 18:196. [PMID: 29378545 PMCID: PMC5789742 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-018-5103-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite effective national immunisation programmes in Europe, some groups remain incompletely or un-vaccinated ('under-vaccinated'), with underserved minorities and certain religious/ideological groups repeatedly being involved in outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases (VPD). Gaining insight into factors regarding acceptance of vaccination of 'under-vaccinated groups' (UVGs) might give opportunities to communicate with them in a trusty and reliable manner that respects their belief system and that, maybe, increase vaccination uptake. We aimed to identify and describe UVGs in Europe and to describe beliefs, attitudes and reasons for non-vaccination in the identified UVGs. METHODS We defined a UVG as a group of persons who share the same beliefs and/or live in socially close-knit communities in Europe and who have/had historically low vaccination coverage and/or experienced outbreaks of VPDs since 1950. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycINFO databases using specific search term combinations. For the first systematic review, studies that described a group in Europe with an outbreak or low vaccination coverage for a VPD were selected and for the second systematic review, studies that described possible factors that are associated with non-vaccination in these groups were selected. RESULTS We selected 48 articles out of 606 and 13 articles out of 406 from the first and second search, respectively. Five UVGs were identified in the literature: Orthodox Protestant communities, Anthroposophists, Roma, Irish Travellers, and Orthodox Jewish communities. The main reported factors regarding vaccination were perceived non-severity of traditional "childhood" diseases, fear of vaccine side-effects, and need for more information about for example risk of vaccination. CONCLUSIONS Within each UVG identified, there are a variety of health beliefs and objections to vaccination. In addition, similar factors are shared by several of these groups. Communication strategies regarding these similar factors such as educating people about the risks associated with being vaccinated versus not being vaccinated, addressing their concerns, and countering vaccination myths present among members of a specific UVG through a trusted source, can establish a reliable relationship with these groups and increase their vaccination uptake. Furthermore, other interventions such as improving access to health care could certainly increase vaccination uptake in Roma and Irish travellers.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. Fournet
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - L. Mollema
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, P.O. Box 1 (internal P.O. Box 75), 3720 BA Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - W. L. Ruijs
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - I. A. Harmsen
- Municipal Health Service (GGD) Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - F. Keck
- Laboratoire d’anthropologie sociale - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - J. Y. Durand
- Centre for Research in Anthropology, Universidade do Minho (CRIA - UMinho), Braga, Portugal
| | - M. P. Cunha
- Centre for Research in Anthropology, Universidade do Minho (CRIA - UMinho), Braga, Portugal
| | - M. Wamsiedel
- Department of Public Health at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
| | - R. Reis
- Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- The Children’s Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - J. French
- Strategic Social Marketing, Liphook, UK
- Brighton University Business School, Brighton, UK
| | - E. G. Smit
- Amsterdam School of Communication Research, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A. Kitching
- Department of Public Health, Health Service Executive, St Finbarr’s Hospital, Cork, Republic of Ireland
| | - J. E. van Steenbergen
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Muscat M, Marinova L, Mankertz A, Gatcheva N, Mihneva Z, Santibanez S, Kunchev A, Filipova R, Kojouharova M. The measles outbreak in Bulgaria, 2009-2011: An epidemiological assessment and lessons learnt. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 21:30152. [PMID: 26967661 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2016.21.9.30152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2015] [Accepted: 06/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Measles re-emerged in a nationwide outbreak in Bulgaria from 2009 to 2011 despite reported high vaccination coverage at national level. This followed an eight-year period since the last indigenous cases of measles were detected. The Bulgarian National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases collated measles surveillance data for 2009-2011. We analysed data for age group, sex, ethnicity, diagnosis confirmation, vaccination, hospitalisation, disease complications, and death and describe the outbreak control measures taken. The outbreak started in April 2009 following an importation of measles virus and affected 24,364 persons, predominantly Roma. Most cases (73%) were among children < 15 years old. Vaccination status was available for 52% (n = 12,630) of cases. Of children 1-14 years old, 22% (n = 1,769) were unvaccinated and 70% (n = 5,518) had received one dose of a measles-containing vaccine. Twenty-four measles-related deaths were reported. The Roma ethnic group was particularly susceptible to measles. The magnitude of the outbreak resulted primarily from the accumulation of susceptible children over time. This outbreak serves as a reminder that both high vaccination coverage and closing of immunity gaps across all sections of the population are crucial to reach the goal of measles elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Muscat
- World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Ivanova SK, Mihneva ZG, Toshev AK, Kovaleva VP, Andonova LG, Muller CP, Hübschen JM. Insights into epidemiology of human parvovirus B19 and detection of an unusual genotype 2 variant, Bulgaria, 2004 to 2013. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 21:30116. [PMID: 26847955 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2016.21.4.30116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The present study aimed to determine the role of human parvovirus В19 (B19V) as an aetiological agent in measles and rubella negative fever/rash patients from Bulgaria between 2004 and 2013. A total of 1,266 sera from all over the country were tested for B19V IgM antibodies and all positives were further investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Overall, 280 sera (22%) were B19V IgM positive and 227 of these (81%) were also PCR positive. The highest number of IgM positives was found among five to nine year-old children (27%). Eight infected women gave birth to healthy children; one fetus was aborted with hydrops fetalis. Of the 55 genetic sequences obtained, 54 belonged to genotype 1a and one grouped as a genotype 2 outlier. Phylogenetic analysis of all available genotype 2 sequences covering the 994 nucleotide non-structural protein 1(NS1)/capsid viral protein 1 (VP1) unique region junction, showed that only one other sequence grouped with the outlier strain, forming a clearly distinct and well-supported cluster of genotype 2 (between-group genetic distance: 3.32%). In accordance with B19V nomenclature, this cluster may represent a new subgenotype 2b. The study showed that B19V infections may be falsely identified as rubella or measles in ca 22% of cases, emphasising the need for laboratory confirmation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefka Krumova Ivanova
- National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Department Virology, National Reference Laboratory of Measles, Mumps and Rubella, Sofia, Bulgaria
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Leuridan E, Sabbe M, Van Damme P. Measles outbreak in Europe: susceptibility of infants too young to be immunized. Vaccine 2012; 30:5905-13. [PMID: 22841972 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.07.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2012] [Revised: 07/08/2012] [Accepted: 07/16/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
As women vaccinated against measles transfer low amounts of antibodies, an increasing number of infants lack early protection through maternal antibodies until being immunised themselves. This paper reviews the literature on disease burden of measles in the population too young to be immunized according to the respective national recommendations during recent outbreaks in EU and EEA/EFTA countries. In addition, specific control strategies adopted to protect this young population are reviewed. Pubmed, Unbound Medline, Web of Knowledge and the Eurosurveillance database were searched using MESH terms: measles and epidemiology, measles and infants, prevalence of measles, measles and outbreaks and measles and epidemic. Additionally, data from Euvac.net and ECDC were consulted. Databases were searched from January 2001 to September 2011. Fifty-three papers were included in the analysis. The percentage of all measles cases during outbreaks affecting young infants ranged from 0.25% to 83.0%. Specific control strategies were adopted: e.g. administration of the first or second vaccine dose earlier than recommended. Infants younger than 12 months are often involved in measles outbreaks, and advancing the first vaccine dose could reduce the burden of disease. However, immunization before 9 months of age is not systematically recommended because of dysmature humoral immune responses of infants. High coverage and timely administration of the recommended series of vaccines are the most important measures to decrease measles incidence and measles circulation and protect vulnerable infants from infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Leuridan
- Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein, 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
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Adult vaccination in 11 Central European countries – Calendars are not just for children. Vaccine 2012; 30:1529-40. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.12.091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2011] [Revised: 12/15/2011] [Accepted: 12/19/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Mankertz A, Mihneva Z, Gold H, Baumgarte S, Baillot A, Helble R, Roggendorf H, Bosevska G, Nedeljkovic J, Makowka A, Hutse V, Holzmann H, Aberle SW, Cordey S, Necula G, Mentis A, Korukluoğlu G, Carr M, Brown KE, Hübschen JM, Muller CP, Mulders MN, Santibanez S. Spread of measles virus D4-Hamburg, Europe, 2008-2011. Emerg Infect Dis 2011; 17:1396-401. [PMID: 21801615 PMCID: PMC3381563 DOI: 10.3201/eid1708.101994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A new strain of measles virus, D4-Hamburg, was imported from London to Hamburg in December 2008 and subsequently spread to Bulgaria, where an outbreak of >24,300 cases was observed. We analyzed spread of the virus to demonstrate the importance of addressing hard-to-reach communities within the World Health Organization European Region regarding access to medical care and vaccination campaigns. The D4-Hamburg strain appeared during 2009-2011 in Poland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Austria, Greece, Romania, Turkey, Macedonia, Serbia, Switzerland, and Belgium and was repeatedly reimported to Germany. The strain was present in Europe for >27 months and led to >25,000 cases in 12 countries. Spread of the virus was prevalently but not exclusively associated with travel by persons in the Roma ethnic group; because this travel extends beyond the borders of any European country, measures to prevent the spread of measles should be implemented by the region as a whole.
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