AN OUTBREAK OF ADULT MEASLES BY NOSOCOMIAL TRANSMISSION IN A HIGH VACCINATION COVERAGE COMMUNITY

Monday, 13th of October 2014

[source]International Journal of Infectious Diseases[|source]

The incidence of measles in Xiaoshan County of Zhejiang Province in China decreased to the lowest historical level in 2010 to 2.82/100 000 population compared to that of 2008, when it was 16.31/100 000 population, affecting especially children under 15 years of age. Because measles transmission has not stopped in Zhejiang Province, infants under 8 months of age who are too young to receive the MCV and adults over 20 years old remain susceptible to measles infection. This is despite a high first MCV coverage rate that remained  >95% since 1999.

In this paper, the authors report on a hospital-associated measles outbreak occurring among adults in a community of Xiaoshan County, Zhejiang Province, China. The report documents the the source and mode of transmission of measles in this outbreak. Detailed outbreak investigation, linelist, epidemic curve and transmission chains are accessible at: http://www.ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712(14)01531-8/fulltext

 

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to determine the mechanism of an outbreak of measles in adults and to provide scientific measures for putting forward a measles elimination program.

METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional investigation during the measles outbreak to identify a possible communication link.

RESULTS: From November 1, 2011 to January 26, 2012, the town reported 11 cases of measles in total. The case study identified an obvious propagation chain, which showed ordered and intimate exposure between cases.

CONCLUSIONS: Hospital exposure 1–2 weeks before infection with measles was the main cause of the measles outbreak. We must be fully aware of the possibility of nosocomial infection in an outbreak of measles; controlling nosocomial infections is a vital step in the prevention and control of the propagation of measles.