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J Epidemiol Glob Health. 2016 Jan 27. pii: S2210-6006(15)30090-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jegh.2015.12.004. [Epub ahead of print]
Verification of measles elimination in Australia: Application of World Health Organization regional guidelines.
Gidding HF1 Martin NV2 Stambos V3 Tran T3 Dey A4 Dowse GK5 Kelly HA6 Durrheim DN7 Lambert SB8.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
The World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region (WPR) Guidelines on verification of measles elimination were established in 2012. This cartier replica article outlines Australias approach to addressing the guidelines five lines of evidence which led to formal verification of elimination by the WHO Regional Verification Commission (RVC) in March 2014.
METHODS:
The criteria were addressed using national measles notifications data from selected laboratories the national childhood immunization register and three national serosurveys (1998/1999 2002 2007).
RESULTS:
Australia met or exceeded all indicator targets with either national or sentinel data. Laboratory and epidemiological surveillance were of high quality with 85% of cases documented as imported/import-related (target 80%); coverage with the first dose of measles vaccine was close to 94% in 2008-2012 and second dose coverage increased to 91% in 2012 (target >95%). There is ongoing commitment by the Australian Government to increase immunization coverage and the absence of sustained transmission of any single measles genotype was demonstrated.
CONCLUSIONS:
This is the first documentation of the successful application of the WPR RVC guidelines. The indicators afford some flexibility but appear to provide appropriate rigor to judge achievement of measles elimination. Our experience could assist other countries seeking to verify their elimination status.
Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
KEYWORDS:
Disease elimination; Measles; Surveillance