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Salama M, Indenbaum V, Nuss N, Savion M, Mor Z, Amitai Z, Yoabob I, Sheffer R. A Measles Outbreak in the Tel Aviv District, Israel, 2018-2019. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 72:1649-1656. [PMID: 32619227 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
During a national measles outbreak in 2018-2019, the Tel Aviv District suffered a major upsurge of cases, with 413 patients reported. Among them, 100 (24%) were <1 year, 92 (22%) patients were aged 12 months to 4 years, 47 (11%) were 5-18 years, 169 (41%) were 19-60 years, and 5 (1%) patients were older than 61 years (born before 1957). Among all cases, 230 (56%) were part of the Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, 55 (13%) were among undocumented African immigrants. Despite high vaccination coverage, sustained measles transmission occurred, due in part to importations and numerous exposures in medical settings by a susceptible birth cohort. The Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community was particularly afflicted due to its condense population, high birth rates, and multiple exposures in crowded religious settings. This outbreak demonstrates the necessity of addressing immunity gaps as well optimal healthcare planning in order to prevent future outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matanelle Salama
- Tel Aviv District Health Office, Ministry of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Vicki Indenbaum
- Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Naama Nuss
- Tel Aviv District Health Office, Ministry of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Michal Savion
- Tel Aviv District Health Office, Ministry of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Zohar Mor
- Tel Aviv District Health Office, Ministry of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel.,School of Health Sciences, Ashkelon Academic College, Ashkelon, Israel
| | - Ziva Amitai
- Tel Aviv District Health Office, Ministry of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Irina Yoabob
- Tel Aviv District Health Office, Ministry of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Rivka Sheffer
- Tel Aviv District Health Office, Ministry of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel
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2
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Bassal R, Indenbaum V, Pando R, Levin T, Shinar E, Amichay D, Barak M, Ben-Dor A, Haim AB, Mendelson E, Cohen D, Shohat T. Seropositivity of measles antibodies in the Israeli population prior to the nationwide 2018 - 2019 outbreak. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2020; 17:1353-1357. [PMID: 33121333 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2020.1824968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Measles vaccine is administered in Israel as part of the routine childhood immunization program, at ages 1 and 6 years. In this study, we assessed seropositivity of the Israeli population against measles before the onset and propagation of the 2018-2019 measles outbreak. From the Israel Center for Disease Control National Serum Bank, 3,164 samples collected during 2015 were tested for measles antibodies. All the tests were performed using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) commercial kit (Enzygnost, Anti-Measles Virus/IgG: Behring, Marburg, Germany). The overall seropositivity rate for measles was 90.7%. The seropositivity rate at 6 months and younger was 48.9%, and decreased to 3.8% among infants aged 6-11 months. Seropositivity increased to 90.7% in the 1-4-year age group, and reached 96.1% for 5-9 year-old children. Our results suggest high immunity in the Israeli population against measles virus, but not high enough to prevent outbreaks because of pockets of specific population groups with low immunization coverage. Infants between ages 6 and 11 months and children younger than 2 years had the lowest seropositivity rates being the age groups with the highest attack rates of measles during the epidemic of 2018. Efforts should be aimed at avoiding any delay in vaccination once a child reaches the age of 1 year and improving immunity levels in children aged 1-4 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravit Bassal
- Ministry of Health, Gertner Institute, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Victoria Indenbaum
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Rakefet Pando
- Ministry of Health, Gertner Institute, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel.,Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Tal Levin
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Eilat Shinar
- Blood Services, Magen David Adom, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Doron Amichay
- Soroka University Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Mira Barak
- Haifa and Western Galilee Laboratories, Clalit Health Services, Nesher, Israel
| | - Anat Ben-Dor
- Schneider Children Medical Center, Clalit Health Services, Petah-Tiqwa, Israel
| | - Adina Bar Haim
- Blood Services, Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center, Bnei-Brak, Israel
| | - Ella Mendelson
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel.,Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Dani Cohen
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Tamy Shohat
- Ministry of Health, Gertner Institute, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat-Gan, Israel.,Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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3
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Avramovich E, Indenbaum V, Haber M, Amitai Z, Tsifanski E, Farjun S, Sarig A, Bracha A, Castillo K, Markovich MP, Galor I. Measles Outbreak in a Highly Vaccinated Population - Israel, July-August 2017. MMWR-MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT 2018; 67:1186-1188. [PMID: 30359348 PMCID: PMC6290812 DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6742a4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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4
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Pediatric Healthcare for Refugee Minors in Europe: Steps for Better Insight and Appropriate Treatment. J Pediatr 2018; 197:323-324.e2. [PMID: 29801545 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2018.03.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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5
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Ceccarelli G, Vita S, Riva E, Cella E, Lopalco M, Antonelli F, De Cesaris M, Fogolari M, Dicuonzo G, Ciccozzi M, Angeletti S. Susceptibility to measles in migrant population: implication for policy makers. J Travel Med 2018; 25:4711101. [PMID: 29232456 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/tax080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite a large measles outbreak is taking place in WHO European region, currently no data are available on measles immunization coverage in the asylum seeker and migrants hosted in this area. METHODS Two hundred and fifty-six migrants upon their arrival in Italy on March, April and May 2016 were screened for measles virus IgG antibodies by chemiluminescence immunoassay (Liaison XL analyzer, Diasorin, Italy). The virus susceptibility in this cohort, the differences between the official country reported and the observed measles immunization coverage and the impact of current measles outbreak on the asylum seekers hosted in the largest Asylum Seeker centres of Italy, were evaluated. RESULTS The prevalence of subjects with positive result for measles IgG antibodies ranged between 79.9% and 100%. In Senegal, Mali, Nigeria, Pakistan and Bangladesh, the measles IgG seroprevalence observed was greater than the vaccinal coverage reported by WHO after I dose of vaccine. Based on data regarding the II dose coverage, the ASs population presented a seroprevalence greater to that expected. CONCLUSION On the basis of the results obtained, extraordinary screening and vaccination campaigns in the migrant population, especially in the course of large outbreaks, could represent a resource to reach an adequate measles immunization coverage and to control this infectious disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giancarlo Ceccarelli
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy.,Migrant and Global Health Research Organisation, Centro di ricerca sulla salute globale e delle popolazioni mobili (Mi-Hero), Via del Pigneto 3, 00176 Roma, Italy.,Sanitary Bureau of Asylum Seekers Center of Castelnuovo di Porto, Via della Circonvallazione della Protezione Civile 1, 00100 Rome, Italy.,Auxilium Società Cooperativa Sociale, Senise (PZ), Italy
| | - Serena Vita
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy.,Migrant and Global Health Research Organisation, Centro di ricerca sulla salute globale e delle popolazioni mobili (Mi-Hero), Via del Pigneto 3, 00176 Roma, Italy.,Sanitary Bureau of Asylum Seekers Center of Castelnuovo di Porto, Via della Circonvallazione della Protezione Civile 1, 00100 Rome, Italy.,Auxilium Società Cooperativa Sociale, Senise (PZ), Italy
| | - Elisabetta Riva
- Clinical Laboratory Science Unit, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Roma, Italy
| | - Eleonora Cella
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy.,Sanitary Bureau of Asylum Seekers Center of Castelnuovo di Porto, Via della Circonvallazione della Protezione Civile 1, 00100 Rome, Italy.,Auxilium Società Cooperativa Sociale, Senise (PZ), Italy
| | - Maurizio Lopalco
- Sanitary Bureau of Asylum Seekers Center of Castelnuovo di Porto, Via della Circonvallazione della Protezione Civile 1, 00100 Rome, Italy.,Auxilium Società Cooperativa Sociale, Senise (PZ), Italy
| | - Francesca Antonelli
- Clinical Laboratory Science Unit, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Roma, Italy
| | - Marina De Cesaris
- Clinical Laboratory Science Unit, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Roma, Italy
| | - Marta Fogolari
- Clinical Laboratory Science Unit, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Roma, Italy
| | - Giordano Dicuonzo
- Clinical Laboratory Science Unit, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Roma, Italy
| | - Massimo Ciccozzi
- Clinical Laboratory Science Unit, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Roma, Italy
| | - Silvia Angeletti
- Clinical Laboratory Science Unit, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Roma, Italy
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Santibanez S, Hübschen JM, Ben Mamou MC, Muscat M, Brown KE, Myers R, Donoso Mantke O, Zeichhardt H, Brockmann D, Shulga SV, Muller CP, O'Connor PM, Mulders MN, Mankertz A. Molecular surveillance of measles and rubella in the WHO European Region: new challenges in the elimination phase. Clin Microbiol Infect 2017; 23:516-523. [PMID: 28712666 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2017.06.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Revised: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The WHO European Region (EUR) has adopted the goal of eliminating measles and rubella but individual countries perform differently in achieving this goal. Measles virus spread across the EUR by mobile groups has recently led to large outbreaks in the insufficiently vaccinated resident population. As an instrument for monitoring the elimination process and verifying the interruption of endemic virus transmission, molecular surveillance has to provide valid and representative data. Irrespective of the country's specific situation, it is required to ensure the functionality of the laboratory surveillance that is supported by the WHO Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network. AIMS To investigate whether the molecular surveillance in the EUR is adequate for the challenges in the elimination phase, we addressed the quality assurance of molecular data, the continuity and intensity of molecular monitoring, and the analysis of transmission chains. SOURCES Published articles, the molecular External Quality Assessment Programme of the WHO, the Centralized Information System for Infectious Diseases of the WHO EUR and the WHO Measles and Rubella Nucleotide Surveillance databases served as information sources. CONTENT Molecular proficiency testing conducted by the WHO in 2016 has shown that the expertise for measles and rubella virus genotyping exists in all parts of the EUR. The analysis of surveillance data reported nationally to the WHO in 2013-2016 has revealed some countries with outbreaks but not sufficiently representative molecular data. Long-lasting supranational MV transmission chains were identified. IMPLICATIONS A more systematic molecular monitoring and recording of the transmission pattern for the whole EUR could help to create a meaningful picture of the elimination process.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Santibanez
- WHO European Regional Reference Laboratory for Measles and Rubella, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany.
| | - J M Hübschen
- WHO European Regional Reference Laboratory for Measles and Rubella, Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette and Laboratoire National de Santé, Dudelange, Luxembourg
| | - M C Ben Mamou
- Vaccine-preventable Diseases and Immunization, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - M Muscat
- Vaccine-preventable Diseases and Immunization, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - K E Brown
- WHO Global Specialized Laboratory for Measles and Rubella, Virus Reference Department, Public Health England, London, UK
| | - R Myers
- WHO Global Specialized Laboratory for Measles and Rubella, Virus Reference Department, Public Health England, London, UK
| | - O Donoso Mantke
- INSTAND e.V. - Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Qualitätssicherung in medizinischen Laboratorien e.V., Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - H Zeichhardt
- INSTAND e.V. - Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Qualitätssicherung in medizinischen Laboratorien e.V., Düsseldorf, Germany; Institut für Virologie, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany; Institut für Qualitätssicherung in der Virusdiagnostik - IQVD, Berlin, Germany
| | - D Brockmann
- Epidemiological Modelling of Infectious Diseases, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany; Institute for Theoretical Biology, Department of Biology, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - S V Shulga
- WHO European Regional Reference Laboratory for Measles and Rubella, Gabrichevsky Research Institute for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia
| | - C P Muller
- WHO European Regional Reference Laboratory for Measles and Rubella, Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-sur-Alzette and Laboratoire National de Santé, Dudelange, Luxembourg
| | - P M O'Connor
- Vaccine-preventable Diseases and Immunization, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - M N Mulders
- Department of Immunization, Vaccines, and Biologicals, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - A Mankertz
- WHO European Regional Reference Laboratory for Measles and Rubella, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
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7
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Seruyange E, Gahutu JB, Mambo Muvunyi C, Uwimana ZG, Gatera M, Twagirumugabe T, Katare S, Karenzi B, Bergström T. Measles seroprevalence, outbreaks, and vaccine coverage in Rwanda. Infect Dis (Lond) 2016; 48:800-7. [PMID: 27386895 DOI: 10.1080/23744235.2016.1201720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Measles outbreaks are reported after insufficient vaccine coverage, especially in countries recovering from natural disaster or conflict. We compared seroprevalence to measles in blood donors in Rwanda and Sweden and explored distribution of active cases of measles and vaccine coverage in Rwanda. METHODS 516 Rwandan and 215 Swedish blood donors were assayed for measles-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data on vaccine coverage and acute cases in Rwanda from 1980 to 2014 were collected, and IgM on serum samples and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on nasopharyngeal (NPH) swabs from suspected measles cases during 2010-2011 were analysed. RESULTS The seroprevalence of measles IgG was significantly higher in Swedish blood donors (92.6%; 95% CI: 89.1-96.1%) compared to Rwandan subjects (71.5%; 95% CI: 67.6-75.4%) and more pronounced <35 years of age. The OD values were significantly lower in the Rwandan blood donors as compared to Swedish subjects (p < 0.00001). However, effective measles vaccine coverage was concomitant with decrease in measles cases in Rwanda, with the exception of an outbreak in 1995 following the 1994 genocide. 76/544 serum samples were IgM positive and 21/31 NPH swabs were PCR positive for measles, determined by sequencing to be of genotype B3. CONCLUSIONS Measles seroprevalence was lower in Rwandan blood donors compared to Swedish subjects. Despite this, the number of reported measles cases in Rwanda rapidly decreased during the study period, concomitant with increased vaccine coverage. Taken together, the circulation of measles was limited in Rwanda and vaccine coverage was favourable, but seroprevalence and IgG levels were low especially in younger age groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Seruyange
- a College of Medicine and Health Sciences , University of Rwanda , Rwanda ;,b Rwanda Military Hospital , Kigali , Rwanda ;,c Department of Infectious Diseases , Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg , Sweden
| | - Jean-Bosco Gahutu
- a College of Medicine and Health Sciences , University of Rwanda , Rwanda
| | | | - Zena G Uwimana
- d National Reference Laboratory , Rwanda Biomedical Centre , Kigali , Rwanda
| | - Maurice Gatera
- e Expanded Program on Immunization , Rwanda Biomedical Centre , Kigali , Rwanda
| | - Theogene Twagirumugabe
- a College of Medicine and Health Sciences , University of Rwanda , Rwanda ;,c Department of Infectious Diseases , Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg , Sweden
| | - Swaibu Katare
- f National Centre for Blood Transfusion , Rwanda Biomedical Centre , Kigali , Rwanda
| | - Ben Karenzi
- b Rwanda Military Hospital , Kigali , Rwanda
| | - Tomas Bergström
- c Department of Infectious Diseases , Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg , Sweden
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Lesens O, Baud O, Henquell C, Lhermet Nurse A, Beytout J. Varicella outbreak in Sudanese refugees from Calais. J Travel Med 2016; 23:taw042. [PMID: 27378366 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taw042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
We describe an outbreak of varicella in 31 Sudanese refugees (all except one were male, mean age: 26 ± 1), from the Calais migrant camp and sheltered in a French transit area. The attack rate was 39%. Adults are scantly immunized against varicella zoster virus in East Africa and may be exposed to epidemics once in France.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Lesens
- Service Des Maladies Infectieuses Et Tropicales, CHU Gabriel Montpied, Clermont-Ferrand, France.,UMR CNRS 6023 Laboratoire Microorganismes: Génome Environnement (LMGE), Clermont University, Université D'Auvergne, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - O Baud
- Service d'hygiène hospitalière, CHU Gabriel Montpied, Clermont-Ferrand, France.,Antenne Régionale Auvergne de lutte contre les infections nosocomiales, CHU Gabriel Montpied, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - C Henquell
- Service de virologie, CHU Gabriel Montpied, Clermont-Ferrand, France.,EA-4843 EPIE, Université d'Auvergne
| | - A Lhermet Nurse
- Service Des Maladies Infectieuses Et Tropicales, CHU Gabriel Montpied, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - J Beytout
- Service Des Maladies Infectieuses Et Tropicales, CHU Gabriel Montpied, Clermont-Ferrand, France
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Levine H, Zarka S, Ankol OE, Rozhavski V, Davidovitch N, Aboudy Y, Balicer RD. Seroprevalence of measles, mumps and rubella among young adults, after 20 years of universal 2-dose MMR vaccination in Israel. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2015; 11:1400-5. [PMID: 25891446 PMCID: PMC4514436 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2015.1032489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2014] [Revised: 02/26/2015] [Accepted: 03/15/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence-based vaccination policy is important for the global and local efforts of achieving control over measles. In 2007, the first Israeli birth cohort to be twice vaccinated during childhood with Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine reached adulthood. In parallel, Israel experienced its largest measles outbreak since 1994. We aimed to assess the seroprevalence of measles IgG antibodies and concordance with rubella and mumps seroprevalence among young Israeli adults born 1988-9 in comparison to previous birth cohorts, in order to inform evidence based prevention policy. We conducted a seroprevalence study of IgG antibodies among 439 Israeli adults born in 1988-9, based on a representative sample of sera collected at age 18-19 upon recruitment to mandatory military service in 2007. In total, 85.7% were seropositive for measles as compared with 95.6% in the 1996 recruitment (P < 0.001). The absolute decline was significant both for males (8.8%, P = 0.001) and females (12.1%, P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in seropositivity by gender, years of education, country of birth or smoking status. Rubella seropositivity among measles seropositives was 90.4%, significantly (P < 0.001) higher than 72.1% among measles seronegatives. Mumps seropositivity among measles seropositives was 87.0%, significantly (P < 0.001) higher than 62.3% among measles seronegatives. Results were similar for Israeli-born only. Our findings indicate that measles seroprevalence decreased after the last change in vaccination policy and reach sub-optimal level. Until global eradication is reached, a proactive vaccination program to supplement routine childhood vaccination program should be considered in Israel and in other countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hagai Levine
- Israeli Defense Force, Medical Corps; Tel Hashomer, Israel
- Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine; Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical Organization; Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Salman Zarka
- Israeli Defense Force, Medical Corps; Tel Hashomer, Israel
- Haifa University School of Public Health; Haifa, Israel
| | - Omer E Ankol
- Israeli Defense Force, Medical Corps; Tel Hashomer, Israel
- Department of Health Management; School of Health Sciences; Ariel University; Ariel, Israel
| | | | - Nadav Davidovitch
- Israeli Defense Force, Medical Corps; Tel Hashomer, Israel
- Faculty of Health Sciences; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Yair Aboudy
- Central Virology Laboratory; Ministry of Health; Sheba Medical Center; Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Ran D Balicer
- Israeli Defense Force, Medical Corps; Tel Hashomer, Israel
- Faculty of Health Sciences; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Beer-Sheva, Israel
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10
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Muscat M, Jankovic D, Goel A, Butler R, Pfeifer D. [Progress in the elimination of measles and rubella in the WHO European Region]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2013; 56:1225-30. [PMID: 23990083 DOI: 10.1007/s00103-013-1797-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Substantial progress has been made in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region toward reaching the goal of measles and rubella elimination. We analyzed the surveillance data of 2012 on measles and rubella for age-group, diagnosis confirmation status (clinical, laboratory-confirmed and epidemiologically linked), vaccination status, and measles-related deaths. For 2012, there were 23,871 measles cases and 29,361 rubella cases reported in the region, mostly among unvaccinated persons. Almost one in three patients with measles and one in five patients with rubella were aged 20 years and older. In a few countries, widespread outbreaks or indigenous transmission of measles persisted in 2012. While most countries in the region have controlled rubella, a small number still reported a high incidence and several outbreaks. Therefore, more efforts are required to achieve the goal of eliminating measles and rubella in the WHO European Region by 2015, particularly in high-incidence countries. The WHO measles and rubella elimination plan stipulates that all countries should achieve and maintain the required high vaccination coverage while conducting high-quality surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Muscat
- WHO Regional Office for Europe, UN City, Marmorvej 51, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Dänemark.
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