High genetic diversity of measles virus, World Health Organization European Region, 2005-2006.
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.
Kremer
Jacques R
JR
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
Brown
Kevin E
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Jin
Li
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Santibanez
Sabine
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Shulga
Sergey V
SV
Aboudy
Yair
Y
Demchyshyna
Irina V
IV
Djemileva
Sultana
S
Echevarria
Juan E
JE
Featherstone
David F
DF
Hukic
Mirsada
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Johansen
Kari
K
Litwinska
Bogumila
B
Lopareva
Elena
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Lupulescu
Emilia
E
Mentis
Andreas
A
Mihneva
Zefira
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Maria M
MM
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Naumova
M A
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Nekrasova
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Fabio
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Claudia
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HR
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Jean-Luc
JL
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Alma
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PA
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Elena O
EO
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Inna
I
Semeiko
Galina V
GV
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Nazim
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Utegenova
Elmira S
ES
van Binnendijk
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R
Vinner
Lasse
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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