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Sustained outbreak of measles in New South Wales, 2012: risks for measles elimination in Australia.
- Source :
-
Western Pacific surveillance and response journal : WPSAR [Western Pac Surveill Response J] 2015 Jan 30; Vol. 5 (1), pp. 14-20. Date of Electronic Publication: 2015 Jan 30 (Print Publication: 2014). - Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- Objective: On 7 April 2012, a recently returned traveller from Thailand to Australia was confirmed to have measles. An outbreak of measles subsequently occurred in the state of New South Wales, prompting a sustained and coordinated response by public health authorities. The last confirmed case presented on 29 November 2012. This report describes the outbreak and its characteristics.<br />Methods: Cases were investigated following Australian protocols, including case interviews and assessment of contacts for post-exposure prophylaxis.<br />Results: Of the 168 cases identified, most occurred in south-western and western Sydney (92.9%, n = 156). Notable features of this outbreak were the disproportionately high number of cases in the 10-19-year-old age group (29.2%, n = 49), the overrepresentation among people of Pacific Islander descent (21.4%, n = 36) and acquisition in health-care facilities (21.4%, n = 36). There were no reported cases of encephalitis and no deaths.<br />Discussion: This was the largest outbreak of measles in Australia since 1997. Its occurrence highlights the need to maintain vigilant surveillance systems for early detection and containment of measles cases and to maintain high population immunity to measles through routine childhood immunization. Vaccination campaigns targeting susceptible groups may also be necessary to sustain Australia's measles elimination status.
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Australia epidemiology
Child
Child, Preschool
Cross Infection epidemiology
Female
Humans
Infant
Male
Measles ethnology
Measles prevention & control
Measles Vaccine
Middle Aged
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
New South Wales epidemiology
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
Risk
Thailand
Young Adult
Disease Outbreaks
Measles epidemiology
Population Surveillance
Travel
Vaccination
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2094-7313
- Volume :
- 5
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Western Pacific surveillance and response journal : WPSAR
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 25635228
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.5365/WPSAR.2013.4.4.002