Nonclassic measles infections in an immune population exposed to measles during a college bus trip.
This study investigated the frequency of mild or asymptomatic measles infections among 44 persons exposed to a student with measles during a 3-day bus trip using two buses. Questionnaires and serum samples were obtained 26-37 days after the trip. All participants had detectable measles-neutralizing antibodies, and none developed classic measles symptoms. Ten persons (23%) were IgM positive for measles, indicating recent infection. Among previously vaccinated IgM-negative persons, those who rode on bus A with the index case-patient had significantly higher microneutralization titers than those on bus B (P= .001), suggesting that some persons on bus A were infected but were IgM negative at the time of the study. Mild or asymptomatic measles infections are probably very common among measles-immune persons exposed to measles cases and may be the most common manifestation of measles during outbreaks in highly immune populations.
Helfand
R F
RF
Emory University, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Kim
D K
DK
Gary
H E
HE
Edwards
G L
GL
Bisson
G P
GP
Papania
M J
MJ
Heath
J L
JL
Schaff
D L
DL
Bellini
W J
WJ
Redd
S C
SC
Anderson
L J
LJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008458:Measles Vaccine