Long-lasting measles outbreak affecting several unrelated networks of unvaccinated persons.
Despite a population immunity level estimated at approximately 95%, an outbreak of measles responsible for 94 cases occurred in Quebec, Canada. Unlike previous outbreaks in which most unvaccinated children belonged to a single community, this outbreak had cases coming from several unrelated networks of unvaccinated persons dispersed in the population. No epidemiological link was found for about one-third of laboratory-confirmed cases. This outbreak demonstrated that minimal changes in the level of aggregation of unvaccinated individuals can lead to sustained transmission in highly vaccinated populations. Mathematical work is needed regarding the level of aggregation of unvaccinated individuals that would jeopardize elimination.
Dallaire
Frédéric
F
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, PQ, Canada.
De Serres
Gaston
G
Tremblay
François-William
FW
Markowski
France
F
Tipples
Graham
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016358:Contact Tracing; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D032521:Immunity, Herd; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D016312:Treatment Refusal; D055815:Young Adult
D008458:Measles Vaccine