Measles risk groups in Spain: implications for the European measles-elimination target.
The European Region has set itself the goal of eliminating measles by 2010. Incidence has increased in recent years. This study sought to investigate outbreaks in Spain in the period 2005-2007, in order to identify measles-vulnerable groups and compare Spain to other European countries which have also had measles outbreaks. The pattern observed for Spain proved different to that of other European countries, i.e., whereas young adults and infants aged under 15 months were affected in Spain, children aged under 9 years comprised the predominant group in other European countries. Measles cases in Spain reflect low coverage when vaccination began, a pattern that could be repeated in neighbouring countries. Vaccination efforts should thus be targeted at vulnerable groups, namely: young adults; health professionals; travelling communities; and adopted infants and foreigners from countries with important pockets of susceptibles.
Peña-Rey
Isabel
I
National Centre for Epidemiology, Carlos III Institute of Health, 28029 Madrid, Spain. sabela@isciii.es
Martínez de Aragón
Victoria
V
Mosquera
Mar
M
de Ory
Fernando
F
Echevarría
Juan Emilio
JE
D000367:Age Factors; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology