title: High genetic diversity of measles virus, World Health Organization European Region, 2005-2006.
abstract: During 2005-2006, nine measles virus (MV) genotypes were identified throughout the World Health Organization European Region. All major epidemics were associated with genotypes D4, D6, and B3. Other genotypes (B2, D5, D8, D9, G2, and H1) were only found in limited numbers of cases after importation from other continents. The genetic diversity of endemic D6 strains was low; genotypes C2 and D7, circulating in Europe until recent years, were no longer identified. The transmission chains of several indigenous MV strains may thus have been interrupted by enhanced vaccination. However, multiple importations from Africa and Asia and virus introduction into highly mobile and unvaccinated communities caused a massive spread of D4 and B3 strains throughout much of the region. Thus, despite the reduction of endemic MV circulation, importation of MV from other continents caused prolonged circulation and large outbreaks after their introduction into unvaccinated and highly mobile communities.
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Reference Laboratory for Measles and Rubella, Laboratoire National de Santé-Immunology 20A, rue Auguste Lumiere, Luxembourg, Luxembourg. jacques.kremer@lns.etat.lu
authors.forename: Jacques R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kremer
authors.forename: Kevin E
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authors.forename: Li
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authors.lastname: Jin
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authors.lastname: Demchyshyna
authors.forename: Sultana
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authors.lastname: Djemileva
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authors.lastname: Featherstone
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authors.forename: Kari
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authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: Bogumila
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authors.lastname: Lopareva
authors.forename: Emilia
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authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mentis
authors.forename: Zefira
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authors.lastname: Mihneva
authors.forename: Maria M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mosquera
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authors.lastname: Naumova
authors.forename: Jasminka
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authors.lastname: Nedeljkovic
authors.forename: Ljubov S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Nekrasova
authors.forename: Fabio
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authors.lastname: Magurano
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fortuna
authors.forename: Helena Rebelo
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.forename: Alma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robo
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Rota
authors.forename: Elena O
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authors.lastname: Samoilovich
authors.forename: Inna
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authors.lastname: Sarv
authors.forename: Galina V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Semeiko
authors.forename: Nazim
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authors.lastname: Shugayev
authors.forename: Elmira S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Utegenova
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Binnendijk
authors.forename: Lasse
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vinner
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Waku-Kouomou
authors.forename: T Fabian
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Wild
authors.forename: David W G
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mankertz
authors.forename: Claude P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Muller
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authors.lastname: Mulders
mesh_terms: D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008457:Measles / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D008459:Measles virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D010802:Phylogeny; D014944:World Health Organization