An outbreak of measles among unvaccinated young adults and measles seroprevalence study: implications for measles outbreak control in adult populations.
Measles incidence has declined significantly in the United States since the 1989-1991 resurgence. Several conditions, including pockets of underimmunization, international importation, and the inability to rapidly detect and contain cases, represent potential threats to this success. During the 1995-1996 winter holiday season, the Minnesota Department of Health investigated an outbreak of measles among unvaccinated young adults affiliated with a religious community. A total of 26 outbreak-associated cases of measles were identified; most case patients (65%) were 20-29 years of age (range, 18 months to 35 years). Although case patients had multiple opportunities to expose the general public, no subsequent transmission was identified despite extensive surveillance efforts. A measles seroprevalence survey of 508 Minnesota blood donors aged 20-39 years was conducted; 91% had serological evidence of immunity to measles. Our findings illustrate that high levels of population immunity can prevent transmission of measles, despite multiple opportunities for exposure.
Ehresmann
Kristen R
KR
Acute Disease Epidemiology Section, Division of Disease Prevention and Control, Minnesota Department of Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414, USA. kristen.ehresmann@health.state.mn.us.
Crouch
Norman
N
Henry
Paula M
PM
Hunt
John M
JM
Habedank
Tonia L
TL
Bowman
Robert
R
Moore
Kristine A
KA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001782:Blood Donors; D002648:Child; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014611:Vaccination
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G