Large ongoing measles outbreak in a religious community in the Netherlands since May 2013.
Despite vaccination coverage over 95%, a measles outbreak started in May 2013 in the Netherlands. As of 28 August, there were 1,226 reported cases, including 82 hospitalisations. It is anticipated that the outbreak will continue. Most cases were orthodox Protestants (n=1,087/1,186; 91.7%) and unvaccinated (n=1,174/1,217; 96.5%). A unique outbreak control intervention was implemented: a personal invitation for measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination was sent for all children aged 6–14 months living in municipalities with MMR vaccination coverage below 90%.
Centre for Infectious Disease Control Netherlands, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D033003:Eastern Orthodoxy; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D032541:Mass Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D033303:Protestantism; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D055815:Young Adult