Sustained outbreak of measles in New South Wales, 2012: risks for measles elimination in Australia

Title
Sustained outbreak of measles in New South Wales, 2012: risks for measles elimination in Australia
Publication Date
2014
Author(s)
Najjar, Zeina
Hope, Kirsty
Clark, Penelope
Nguyen, Oanh
Rosewell, Alexander
Conaty, Stephen
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
World Health Organization
Place of publication
Philippines
DOI
10.5365/wpsar.2013.4.4.001
UNE publication id
une:20917
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.
Link
Citation
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response Journal, 5(1), p. 14-20
ISSN
2094-7313
2094-7321
Start page
14
End page
20

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