title: Analysis of the Auckland 2014 measles outbreak indicates that adolescents and young adults could benefit from catch-up vaccination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the epidemiology, serology and vaccine effectiveness in a recent New Zealand measles outbreak that started in Auckland, from December, 2013 to June, 2014, to guide further preventive measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cases had a clinically compatible illness, which was either confirmed by PCR or serology, or were linked to a laboratory confirmed case.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 113 cases with 3,113 contacts were traced and managed in the Auckland region. Thirteen overseas acquired cases, produced a total of 98 locally acquired secondary cases, (plus two cases with unknown travel history). The majority of cases occurred in adolescents and young adults; 68/113 cases (60.1%) were aged 10 to 19 years. Among cases, 38.9% (44/113) were unimmunised, and 31.8% (36/113) had unknown immunisation status. A further 15.0% (17/113) of cases had received one or two doses of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine. Of the contacts who underwent serological testing for immunity (n=735), the lowest levels of serological immunity were observed in people aged 10 to 24 years. Vaccine effectiveness was calculated for the 15-24 year age cohort at 92% (95%CI; 82-97).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that an adolescent catch-up immunisation programme would prevent further outbreaks of imported measles.
authors.affiliation: Auckland Regional Public Health, Auckland District Health Board. garyr@adhb.govt.nz.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Cassandra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thornley
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matson
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoskins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007223:Infant; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine