title: The risk of measles, mumps, and varicella among young adults: a serosurvey of US Navy and Marine Corps recruits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the risk of epidemic transmission and to guide immunization policy, the seroprevalence of antibody to measles, mumps, and varicella was determined in a group of young adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of 1533 US Navy and Marine Corps recruits was conducted in June 1989. Antibody status was determined with commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Direct sex and race adjustment to the 15- to 29-year-old US population resulted in seronegativity rates of 17.8% for measles, 12.3% for mumps, and 6.7% for varicella. Measles and mumps seronegativity rates were higher among Whites whereas varicella seronegativity was higher among non-Whites. Recruits enlisting from outside the 50 US states, especially those from island territories, were more likely to lack varicella antibody. The sensitivity of a positive history of vaccination or disease in predicting antibody status was less than 90% for all diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest a continued potential for epidemics, especially of measles, and the need for mandatory immunization policies. Immigrants to the United States, especially those from island territories, may be a high-risk group that could benefit from varicella vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit No. 5, San Diego, Calif.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Struewing
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Hyams
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Tueller
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Gray
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology*; D008889:Military Personnel; D009107:Mumps / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D009109:Mumps virus / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral