Zeina Najjar1, Kirsty Hope1, Penelope Clark2, Oanh Nguyen2, Alexander Rosewell3, Stephen Conaty1. 1. South Western Sydney and Sydney Local Health Districts Public Health Unit, New South Wales, Australia . 2. Western Sydney Local Health District Public Health Unit, New South Wales, Australia . 3. Communicable Diseases Branch, New South Wales Ministry of Health, North Sydney, Australia .
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. METHODS: Cases were investigated following Australian protocols, including case interviews and assessment of contacts for post-exposure prophylaxis. 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. 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.
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. METHODS: Cases were investigated following Australian protocols, including case interviews and assessment of contacts for post-exposure prophylaxis. 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. 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.
Authors: Jm Mayoral Cortes; E Perez Morilla; V Gallardo Garcia; Jm Navarro Mari; M Perez Ruiz; R Hermosilla; J Diaz-Borrego; E Rodriguez Romero; J Ruiz Fernandez Journal: Euro Surveill Date: 2012-10-18
Authors: A E Heywood; N Zwar; B L Forssman; H Seale; N Stephens; J Musto; C Lane; B Polkinghorne; M Sheikh; M Smith; H Worth; C R Macintyre Journal: Epidemiol Infect Date: 2016-08-30 Impact factor: 2.451