title: Seroprevalence of measles, mumps and rubella among children in American Samoa, 2011, and progress towards West Pacific Region goals of elimination.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In line with the global goals for measles elimination, countries in the West Pacific Region (WPR) have set a goal to eliminate measles by 2012. Due to its contagiousness, high population immunity is needed for achieving and documenting measles elimination. We assessed population immunity to measles, mumps and rubella among first grade children in American Samoa (AS) through a seroprevalance study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using commercial indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbant IgG assays (Wampole Laboratories, Cranbury, NJ) we determined IgG antibodies against the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) viruses in sera collected from first grade students in AS in April-May 2011. Vaccination status was retrieved from the immunization cards. Factors associated with seropositivity of measles, mumps, and rubella were analyzed separately.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 509 first grade students, measles, mumps, and rubella seroprevalence were 92%, 90%, and 93%, respectively. The proportions of first grade students with documented one or two doses of MMR vaccine were 93% and 84%, respectively. The vaccination status of 6% of the first graders was unknown and 1% was unvaccinated. Receiving two-doses of MMR vaccines was associated with high measles and mumps seropositivity (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high measles seroprevalence among children shows the progress by American Samoa towards measles elimination. Achieving and maintaining high two-dose MMR vaccine coverage in all age groups will aid in attaining the measles elimination status and prevent transmission of measles from potential imported measles cases from other countries.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. Amahamud@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Abdirahman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahamud
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Masunu-Faleafaga
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Walls
authors.forename: Nobia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Eyasu
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Teshale
authors.forename: Roxanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dulski
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Bellini
authors.forename: Preeta K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Kutty
mesh_terms: D018948:American Samoa / Q000453:epidemiology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009107:Mumps / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012409:Rubella / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013334:Students; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine
keywords: ACIP; AS; ASDOE; ASDOH; Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices; American Samoa; American Samoa Department of Health; CDC; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Department of Education; MMR vaccine; Measles; Mumps; Rubella; Seroprevalence; measles–mumps–rubella vaccine