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The European Commission asked EFSA to evaluate the efficacy of an infant formula, containing a specific protein hydrolysate derived from whey protein isolate and concentrate and manufactured by Societe des Produits Nestle S.A., in reducing the risk of developing atopic dermatitis in infants with a family history of allergy. This was following the submission of a dossier by Societe des Produits Nestle S.A. to the European Commission, in the context of Regulation (EU) 2016/127. The protein hydrolysate from which the infant formula is produced is included in Annex I and II of Commission delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/127 as suitable protein source for the manufacture of infant and follow-on formulae. This opinion does not cover the assessment of the nutritional safety and suitability of the infant formula or the safety of the food enzymes used in the manufacture of the protein hydrolysate. The Panel considers that, in relation to the effect that is claimed, the infant formula under evaluation is not sufficiently characterised with respect to the molecular weight distribution of peptides. From the human intervention studies submitted, no conclusions could be drawn on the efficacy of the infant formula in reducing the risk of developing atopic dermatitis. The Panel concludes that a cause-and-effect relationship has not been established between the consumption of the infant formula under evaluation and the reduction in the risk of developing atopic dermatitis in infants with a family history of allergy. (C) 2021 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the safety of calcidiol monohydrate as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, including its bioavailability as a metabolite of vitamin D3 when added for nutritional purposes to food supplements. The NF is produced chemically. It is proposed in food supplements up to 10 μg/day for individuals ≥ 11 years of age, including pregnant and lactating women and up to 5 μg/day in 3‐ to 10‐year‐old children. The production process, composition, specifications and stability of the NF do not raise safety concerns. Animal and human data indicate efficient absorption. The NF contains a fraction of nanoparticles, which are fat soluble and unlikely to reach systemic distribution. There are no concerns regarding genotoxicity. Human adult studies do not raise safety concerns. Combined intake estimates of calcidiol from the NF and calcidiol and vitamin D from the diet were below the tolerable upper intake level (UL) for vitamin D for subjects above 11 years of age. The achieved mean serum 25(OH)D concentration in adults supplemented with 10 μg NF per day remained below 200 nmol/L. The Panel concludes that the NF is safe under the proposed conditions of use and use levels for individuals ≥ 11 years old, including pregnant and lactating women. The applicant did not provide data on the bioavailability and safety of the NF in children. The combined intake estimation in children (3–10 years) is close to the UL for vitamin D. Therefore, the Panel could not conclude on the safety of consumption of the NF in children (3–10 years) at the proposed daily intake. The NF is a bioavailable source of the biologically active metabolite of vitamin D, i.e. 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D.

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) derives dietary reference values (DRVs) for vitamin K. In this Opinion, the Panel considers vitamin K to comprise both phylloquinone and menaquinones. The Panel considers that none of the biomarkers of vitamin K intake or status is suitable by itself to derive DRVs for vitamin K. Several health outcomes possibly associated with vitamin K intake were also considered but data could not be used to establish DRVs. The Panel considers that average requirements and population reference intakes for vitamin K cannot be derived for adults, infants and children, and therefore sets adequate intakes (AIs). The Panel considers that available evidence on occurrence, absorption, function and content in the body or organs of menaquinones is insufficient, and, therefore, sets AIs for phylloquinone only. Having assessed additional evidence available since 1993 in particular related to biomarkers, intake data and the factorial approach, which all are associated with considerable uncertainties, the Panel maintains the reference value proposed by the Scientific Committee for Food (SCF) in 1993. An AI of 1 μg phylloquinone/kg body weight per day is set for all age and sex population groups. Considering the respective reference body weights, AIs for phylloquinone are set at 70 μg/day for all adults including pregnant and lactating women, at 10 μg/day for infants aged 7–11 months, and between 12 μg/day for children aged 1–3 years and 65 μg/day for children aged 15–17 years., This publication is linked to the following EFSA Supporting Publications article: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/sp.efsa.2017.EN-1220/full

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has been involved in the risk assessment of novel foods since 2003. The implementation of the current novel food regulation in 2018 rendered EFSA the sole entity of the European Union responsible for such safety evaluations. The risk assessment is based on the data submitted by applicants in line with the scientific requirements described in the respective EFSA guidance document. The present work aims to elaborate on the rationale behind the scientific questions raised during the risk assessment of novel foods, with a focus on complex mixtures and whole foods. Novel foods received by EFSA in 2003-2019 were screened and clustered by nature and complexity. The requests for additional or supplementary information raised by EFSA during all risk assessments were analyzed for identifying reoccurring issues. In brief, it is shown that applications concern mainly novel foods derived from plants, microorganisms, fungi, algae, and animals. A plethora of requests relates to the production process, the compositional characterization of the novel food, and the evaluation of the product's toxicological profile. Recurring issues related to specific novel food categories were noted. The heterogeneous nature and the variable complexity of novel foods emphasize the challenge to tailor aspects of the evaluation approach to the characteristics of each individual product. Importantly, the scientific requirements for novel food applications set by EFSA are interrelated, and only a rigorous and cross-cutting approach adopted by the applicants when preparing the respective application dossiers can lead to scientifically sound dossiers. This is the first time that an in-depth analysis of the experience gained by EFSA in the risk assessment of novel foods and of the reasoning behind the most frequent scientific requests by EFSA to applicants is made.

The European Commission requested the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to update the dietary reference values (DRVs) for the European Union (EU) previously set by the Scientific Committee on Food (1993). DRVs are science-based reference values for nutrient intake of healthy people. The work on energy, water, macronutrients and vitamins has been completed (2017); that on minerals has continued (2019). We present the derivation of DRVs for 14 vitamins for adults.To set DRVs for adults, EFSA either used biomarkers of status, a factorial approach, data on health outcomes, or updated EU intake estimates. The latter were initially taken from publications. EFSA then compiled its own food composition database and calculated intake estimates combining it with individual data from representative national surveys from the EFSA Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database.EFSA set adequate intakes (AIs) for 7 vitamins, and population reference intakes (PRIs) for 7 others, for adults. Based on its review of biomarkers, health outcomes and intake, EFSA confirmed previous DRVs for vitamin K (per kg of body weight), niacin and thiamin (per MJ). Distinct updated values for women and men were derived for vitamins A, B6, C and E. DRVs for vitamins B6 and E were changed to daily amounts (instead of per g of protein or PUFA intake, respectively). Vitamin E was defined as alpha-tocopherol only (instead of alpha-tocopherol equivalents), and the DRV for folate was expressed in μg of dietary folate equivalents (instead of μg). DRV for cobalamin became an AI with an increased value compared to the previous PRI. Using updated intake estimates for biotin and pantothenic acid, and intake-status relationship for vitamin D, EFSA set AIs instead of previous acceptable ranges of intake. EFSA increased the PRI for folate, and that for riboflavin for women, considering data on biomarkers, and also those for vitamins A and C following a factorial approach. For the first time, a DRV for choline for the EU population was set, based on observed intakes and data on correction of deficiency symptoms.This review of available evidence led to a substantial update of the previous DRVs for vitamins. It also showed the need for more studies specifically designed to assess nutritional requirements, or to measure food composition (e.g. vitamin K, choline). There is also a need for the development and improvement of biomarkers of intake or status and relevant analytical methods for their use in setting DRVs.

The European Commission asked EFSA to deliver an opinion on the nutritional safety and suitability of a specific protein hydrolysate. It is derived from whey protein concentrate and used in an infant and follow-on formula by Danone Trading ELN B.V, which submitted a dossier to the European Commission to request an amendment of Regulation (EU) 2016/127 with respect to the protein sources that may be used in the manufacture of infant and/or follow-on formula. This opinion does not cover the assessment of the safety of the food enzymes used in the manufacture of the protein hydrolysate. The protein hydrolysate under evaluation is sufficiently characterised with respect to the fraction of the hydrolysed protein. In the pertinent intervention study provided, an infant formula manufactured from the protein hydrolysate with a protein content of 2.3 g/100 kcal and consumed as the sole source of nutrition by infants for 3.5 months led to growth equivalent to a formula manufactured from intact cow's milk protein (2 g protein/100 kcal). No experimental data have been provided on the nutritional safety and suitability of this protein source in follow-on formula. However, given that it is consumed with complementary foods and the protein source is considered nutritionally safe and suitable in an infant formula that is the sole source of nutrition of infants, the Panel considers that the protein hydrolysate is also a nutritionally safe and suitable protein source for use in follow-on formula. The Panel concludes that the protein hydrolysate under evaluation is a nutritionally safe and suitable protein source for use in infant and follow-on formula, as long as the formula in which it is used contains a minimum of 2.3 g/100 kcal protein and complies with the compositional criteria of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/127 and the amino acid pattern in its Annex IIIA. (C) 2020 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) revised its 2009 Opinion on the appropriate age for introduction of complementary feeding of infants. This age has been evaluated considering the effects on health outcomes, nutritional aspects and infant development, and depends on the individual's characteristics and development. As long as foods have an age‐appropriate texture, are nutritionally appropriate and prepared following good hygiene practices, there is no convincing evidence that at any age investigated in the included studies (, This publication is linked to the following EFSA Supporting Publications article: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/sp.efsa.2019.EN-1686/full This publication is linked to the following EFSA Journal article: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4969/full

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) was asked to revise the tolerable upper intake level (UL) for vitamin D for infants (≤ 1 year) set in 2012. From its literature review, the Panel concluded that the available evidence on daily vitamin D intake and the risk of adverse health outcomes (hypercalciuria, hypercalcaemia, nephrocalcinosis and abnormal growth patterns) cannot be used alone for deriving the UL for infants. The Panel conducted a meta‐regression analysis of collected data, to derive a dose–response relationship between daily supplemental intake of vitamin D and mean achieved serum 25(OH)D concentrations. Considering that a serum 25(OH)D concentration of 200 nmol/L or below is unlikely to pose a risk of adverse health outcomes in infants, the Panel estimated the percentage of infants reaching a concentration above this value at different intakes of vitamin D. Based on the overall evidence, the Panel kept the UL of 25 μg/day for infants aged up to 6 months and set a UL of 35 μg/day for infants 6–12 months. The Panel was also asked to advise on the safety of the consumption of infant formulae with an increased maximum vitamin D content of 3 μg/100 kcal (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/127 repealing Directive 2006/141/EC in 2020). For infants aged up to 4 months, the intake assessment showed that the use of infant formulae containing vitamin D at 3 μg/100 kcal may lead some infants to receive an intake above the UL of 25 μg/day from formulae alone without considering vitamin D supplemental intake. For infants aged 4–12 months, the 95th percentile of vitamin D intake (high consumers) estimated from formulae and foods fortified or not with vitamin D does not exceed the ULs, without considering vitamin D supplemental intake., This publication is linked to the following EFSA Supporting Publications article: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/sp.efsa.2018.EN-1456/full

Dès le protectorat français et depuis l’indépendance, l’hôpital a été la « vitrine » politique de santé au Cambodge. Aujourd’hui, l’hôpital fait l’objet d’enjeux politiques, économiques et sociaux qui traversent la société cambodgienne contemporaine. Cet article propose une analyse de l’espace physique et social qui régit le quotidien hospitalier dans le cadre d’une ethnographie d’une maternité de Phnom Penh. Une description ethnographique des espaces de l’hôpital permet de le définir comme un espace ouvert à compartiments clos ; espace ouvert à l’intérieur duquel se dessinent des pôles professionnels et domestiques ou en lien avec la saleté et la propreté. Les frontières entre ces différents pôles délimitent des espaces clos où les accès sont strictement contrôlés. Cet emboîtement des espaces permet de comprendre la dynamique de la gestion de l’espace physique mais également social. L’organisation hospitalière est régie par une double hiérarchie, à la fois professionnelle et sociale. Cette hiérarchisation se retrouve dans la répartition des tâches quotidiennes où le « sale boulot » demeure attribué au personnel au plus bas de l’échelle hospitalière et sociale. Si l’organisation sociale à l’hôpital reflète en partie la hiérarchie de la société cambodgienne, nos observations montrent que le jeu social est plus subtil, faisant parfois intervenir le pouvoir acquis par l’appartenance politique des soignants ou l’origine sociale des malades. De même, il n’est pas uniquement question de pouvoir et de hiérarchie dans les rapports sociaux intra-hospitaliers : les usages de l’argent et son partage entre les divers soignants estompent les rapports de pouvoir entre les personnels soignants et participent à l’élaboration de sociabilité soignante au sein de l’hôpital.In Cambodia, hospitals have been the stage of public health politics since the establishment of the French Protectorate. Today, hospital is still at the center of political, economical and social issues that spread across the whole Cambodian society. The theme of the present work is based on the ethnography of a public hospital in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia. Fieldwork was conducted in a maternity ward by two researchers. While the first fieldwork observations concentrate on the workers’ tasks, the second ethnographic fieldwork, conducted in the delivery ward of this hospital, examines more specifically the medical staff work. The hospital space can be described as “an open space with closed sections”. Within this open space, some areas are characterised by cleanness/dirtiness polarity, as well as domestic/professional polarity. This polarization delimits margins within the hospital space and controlled closed sections, as the “in camera” of a delivery ward. This hospital space analysis points out some issues linked to the social control of space in a hospital. In addition, the study deals with social interactions that organize the health workers lives and work. A double hierarchy, both professional and social, governs the hospital work organization. This hierarchy is reflected through the analysis of the distribution of the dirty work in the day-to-day life of the wards. The assumption could be made that hospital hierarchy partially reflects the social Cambodian hierarchy itself. However, social interactions are more subtle and complex, since the hierarchy can be affected by health workers’ length of service, their political affiliation or even the patients social status. Despite the weight of this hierarchy, hospital employees adopt strategies of financial cooperation among themselves, which contributes to create a healthworkers-specific sociability. Hence, we can say that social interactions within the hospital are largely defined by a complex series of interactions between hierarchy and social cooperation.

Dès le protectorat français et depuis l’indépendance, l’hôpital a été la « vitrine » politique de santé au Cambodge. Aujourd’hui, l’hôpital fait l’objet d’enjeux politiques, économiques et sociaux qui traversent la société cambodgienne contemporaine. Cet article propose une analyse de l’espace physique et social qui régit le quotidien hospitalier dans le cadre d’une ethnographie d’une maternité de Phnom Penh. Une description ethnographique des espaces de l’hôpital permet de le définir comme un espace ouvert à compartiments clos ; espace ouvert à l’intérieur duquel se dessinent des pôles professionnels et domestiques ou en lien avec la saleté et la propreté. Les frontières entre ces différents pôles délimitent des espaces clos où les accès sont strictement contrôlés. Cet emboîtement des espaces permet de comprendre la dynamique de la gestion de l’espace physique mais également social. L’organisation hospitalière est régie par une double hiérarchie, à la fois professionnelle et sociale. Cette hiérarchisation se retrouve dans la répartition des tâches quotidiennes où le « sale boulot » demeure attribué au personnel au plus bas de l’échelle hospitalière et sociale. Si l’organisation sociale à l’hôpital reflète en partie la hiérarchie de la société cambodgienne, nos observations montrent que le jeu social est plus subtil, faisant parfois intervenir le pouvoir acquis par l’appartenance politique des soignants ou l’origine sociale des malades. De même, il n’est pas uniquement question de pouvoir et de hiérarchie dans les rapports sociaux intra-hospitaliers : les usages de l’argent et son partage entre les divers soignants estompent les rapports de pouvoir entre les personnels soignants et participent à l’élaboration de sociabilité soignante au sein de l’hôpital. In Cambodia, hospitals have been the stage of public health politics since the establishment of the French Protectorate. Today, hospital is still at the center of political, economical and social issues that spread across the whole Cambodian society. The theme of the present work is based on the ethnography of a public hospital in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia. Fieldwork was conducted in a maternity ward by two researchers. While the first fieldwork observations concentrate on the workers’ tasks, the second ethnographic fieldwork, conducted in the delivery ward of this hospital, examines more specifically the medical staff work. The hospital space can be described as “an open space with closed sections”. Within this open space, some areas are characterised by cleanness/dirtiness polarity, as well as domestic/professional polarity. This polarization delimits margins within the hospital space and controlled closed sections, as the “in camera” of a delivery ward. This hospital space analysis points out some issues linked to the social control of space in a hospital. In addition, the study deals with social interactions that organize the health workers lives and work. A double hierarchy, both professional and social, governs the hospital work organization. This hierarchy is reflected through the analysis of the distribution of the dirty work in the day-to-day life of the wards. The assumption could be made that hospital hierarchy partially reflects the social Cambodian hierarchy itself. However, social interactions are more subtle and complex, since the hierarchy can be affected by health workers’ length of service, their political affiliation or even the patients social status. Despite the weight of this hierarchy, hospital employees adopt strategies of financial cooperation among themselves, which contributes to create a healthworkers-specific sociability. Hence, we can say that social interactions within the hospital are largely defined by a complex series of interactions between hierarchy and social cooperation.

Besides providing n-3 fatty acids with nutritional and health benefits, seafood consumption may contribute to the reduction of nutrient prevalences of inadequacy. To evaluate the contributions of seafood and other food groups to nutrient intakes of frequent seafood consumers, food consumption was evaluated through an FFQ on 991 French men and women (18–81 years) consuming seafood at least twice a week. Intakes, prevalence of inadequacies, risks of upper limit excess and food contributions to intakes were assessed for thirty-three nutrients. Mean fat contributions to total energy intakes (38·3 and 39·0 % for men and women, respectively) met French recommendations, but mean carbohydrate intakes (40·9 and 39·7 %, respectively) were insufficient. Micronutrient inadequacies were lower than in the French general population, the highest being for vitamin C (41·3 and 40·1 % for men and women, respectively), vitamin E (35·0 and 35·3 % for men and women, respectively) and Mg (37·5 and 25·5 % for men and women, respectively). Upper safety limits (USL) were exceeded mostly for Zn (6·2 %), Ca (3·7 %), retinol (2·0 %) and Cu (0·9 %). Mean contributions of seafood to vitamin D, B12, I and Se intakes ranged 40–65 %. Molluscs and crustaceans significantly contributed to vitamin B12 (13·7 %), Cu (11·4 %), Fe (11·5 %), Zn (8·4 %) and I (6·1 %) intakes, and canned fish contributed to vitamin D intake (13·4 %). Besides fish, contributions of mollusc and crustacean consumption to nutrient intakes should be considered from a public health viewpoint. Consuming seafood at least twice a week induces moderate inadequacies and risks of exceeding USL for some micronutrients, whereas macronutrient intakes remained imbalanced.

Background The frequency of bloodborne pathogen healthcare-associated infections is thought to be high in developing Southeast Asian Countries. The underlying social-cultural logics contributing to the risks of transmission are rarely studied. This report provides some insights on the social and cultural factors that shape hygiene practices in Cambodian health care settings. Methods We conducted qualitative surveys in various public and private health facilities in Phnom Penh, the capital city and in provinces. We observed and interviewed 319 participants, health care workers and patients, regarding hygiene practices and social relationships amongst the health care staff and with patients. We also examined the local perceptions of hygiene, their impact on the relationships between the health care staff and patients, and perceptions of transmission risks. Data collection stem from face to face semi-structured and open-ended interviews and focus group discussions with various health care staffs (i.e. cleaners, nurses, midwives and medical doctors) and with patients who attended the study health facilities. Results Overall responses and observations indicated that hygiene practices were burdened by the lack of adequate materials and equipements. In addition, many other factors were identified to influence and distort hygiene practices which include (1) informal and formal social rapports in hospitals, (2) major infection control roles played by the cleaners in absence of professional acknowledgment. Moreover, hygiene practices are commonly seen as an unessential matter to be devoted to low-ranking staff. Conclusion Our anthropological findings illustrate the importance of comprehensive understanding of hygiene practices; they need to be considered when designing interventions to improve infection control practices in a Cambodian medical setting.

International audience; Background: The modalities of HIV, HBV, HCV healthcare-associated infections and the underlying social and cultural logics contributing to this transmission are not precisely known, since hospital hygiene has mainly been studied from a biological point of view until now. However, hospital hygiene is shaped by norms and social-cultural representations, which increase or limit the transmission of infectious agents, always taking place within social relations. In 2006-2009, an anthropological research project (ANRS 12102) aimed at documenting those issues in various health settings in Cambodia. Practices related to hygiene were analyzed from a cultural point of view, especially since norms are interpreted at local level according to social and symbolic logics.Methods: We collected qualitative data in formal and informal sectors of care, mainly in general hospital services, maternity wards, primary health centers and in traditional practitioners’ private clinics. We interviewed many participants regarding hygiene practices and social relationships amongst the staff and between health care workers and patients. We also investigated the local representations of hygiene, their impact on the relationships between health care workers and patients and perceptions of transmission risks by health care workers.Results: In a context were hygiene practices were limited by the lack of adequate materials and equipments, other factors were identified, which influence and distort hygiene practices. They include: (1) informal and formal social relationships in hospitals, (2) major infection control roles played by cleaners in absence of professional acknowledgment, (3) lack of consideration for hygiene by health professionals that rely on low-ranking staff for hygiene practices. Besides these issues, various questions emerged regarding social science theory. Indeed, doing research on infectious disease transmission led us to include investigations and interpretations related to anthropology of development, historical and social perspectives on public health institutions, and social organization in hospital settings. The social condition of working class (the workers), the legal and illegal systems of care, various aspects related to the politics of reproduction were issues at stake, which leads to more general issues on social changes in Cambodia. Moreover, hygiene issue may be seen as an encounter of the biological body and the social body, whose construction and effects are deeply inscribed in the historical and contemporary forms of social organization and power distribution in Cambodia.Conclusion: Our anthropological findings illustrate the importance of comprehensive understanding of hygiene practices; they need to be considered when designing intervention to improve infection control practices in a Cambodian medical setting.

En novembre 2006 avait lieu l’inauguration de l’Institut Emilie du Châtelet au College de France a Paris. Cette note breve sur cet evenement peut interesser les chercheurs et chercheuses concernes par les questions sur le genre. Le role et l’ambition de l’IEC portent sur quatre points : mettre en place des bases documentaires sur les femmes, le sexe et le genre (internet, support multimedia, politique editoriale) ; soutenir et ameliorer la visibilite des recherches sur ces themes ; developper...

A methodology is developed for interpreting the molecular weight distributions of debranched amylopectin, based on techniques developed for quantitatively and qualitatively finding mechanistic information from the molecular weight distributions of synthetic polymers. If the only events occurring are random chain growth and stoppage (i.e., the rates are independent of degree of polymerization over the range in question), then the number of chains of degree of polymerization N, P(N), is linear in ln P(N) with a negative slope, where the slope gives the ratio of the stoppage and growth rates. This starting point suggests that mechanistic inferences can be made from a plot of lnP against N. Application to capillary electrophoresis data for the P(N) of debranched starch from across the major taxa, from bacteria (Escherichia coli), green algae (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii), mammals (Bos), and flowering plants (Oryza sativa, rice; Zea mays, maize; Triticum aestivum, wheat; Hordeum vulgare, barley; and Solanum tuberosum, potato), gives insights into the biosynthetic pathways, showing the differences and similarities of the alpha-1,4-glucans produced by the various species. Four characteristic regions for storage starch from the higher plants are revealed: (1) an initial increasing region corresponding to the formation of new branches, (2) a linear ln P region with negative slope, indicating random growth and stoppage, (3) a region corresponding to the formation of the crystalline lamellae and subsequent elongation of chains, and (4) a second linear ln P with negative slope region. Each region can be assigned to specific enzymatic processes in starch synthesis, including determining the ranges of degrees of polymerization which are subject to random and nonrandom processes.

Cambodian authorities in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) are implementing a measles control plan in this measles endemic country. Genetic characterization of Cambodian wild-type measles viruses was performed to determine the genotypes involved in outbreaks, and to measure the level of virus circulation in a geographic area just beginning to implement the measles control program. Seventy-two sequences of the C terminus of the nucleoprotein gene of measles virus were obtained from 88 patients. Samples were taken from 35 among 519 outbreaks reported to the Cambodian National Immunization Program between March 2001 and June 2002. The sequences were grouped into 10 lineages which all belonged to genotype D5. The maximum nucleotide divergence was 1.3%.