title: Sustained outbreak of measles in New South Wales, 2012: risks for measles elimination in Australia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  On 7 April 2012, a recently returned traveller from Thailand to Australia was confirmed to have measles. An outbreak of measles subsequently occurred in the state of New South Wales, prompting a sustained and coordinated response by public health authorities. The last confirmed case presented on 29 November 2012. This report describes the outbreak and its characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cases were investigated following Australian protocols, including case interviews and assessment of contacts for post-exposure prophylaxis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 168 cases identified, most occurred in south-western and western Sydney (92.9%, n = 156). Notable features of this outbreak were the disproportionately high number of cases in the 10-19-year-old age group (29.2%, n = 49), the overrepresentation among people of Pacific Islander descent (21.4%, n = 36) and acquisition in health-care facilities (21.4%, n = 36). There were no reported cases of encephalitis and no deaths.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This was the largest outbreak of measles in Australia since 1997. Its occurrence highlights the need to maintain vigilant surveillance systems for early detection and containment of measles cases and to maintain high population immunity to measles through routine childhood immunization. Vaccination campaigns targeting susceptible groups may also be necessary to sustain Australia's measles elimination status.
authors: South Western Sydney and Sydney Local Health Districts Public Health Unit, New South Wales, Australia .
authors: Zeina
authors: Z
authors: Najjar
authors: South Western Sydney and Sydney Local Health Districts Public Health Unit, New South Wales, Australia .
authors: Kirsty
authors: K
authors: Hope
authors: Western Sydney Local Health District Public Health Unit, New South Wales, Australia .
authors: Penelope
authors: P
authors: Clark
authors: Western Sydney Local Health District Public Health Unit, New South Wales, Australia .
authors: Oanh
authors: O
authors: Nguyen
authors: Communicable Diseases Branch, New South Wales Ministry of Health, North Sydney, Australia .
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Rosewell
authors: South Western Sydney and Sydney Local Health Districts Public Health Unit, New South Wales, Australia .
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Conaty
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008458:Measles Vaccine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D056990:Post-Exposure Prophylaxis; D012306:Risk; D013785:Thailand; D014195:Travel; D014611:Vaccination; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008458:Measles Vaccine
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