Nosocomial transmission of measles among healthcare workers, Bulgaria, 2010.

This report describes 326 cases of nosocomial transmission of measles with 286 cases among non-healthcare workers who acquired the disease in a hospital setting. Between October 2009 and April 2010, 40 healthcare workers from seven different regions in Bulgaria have contracted the disease.

An ongoing measles outbreak in Bulgaria, 2009.

After seven years without indigenous transmission of measles in Bulgaria, an increasing number of cases have been reported since 15 April 2009. By 19 June, the total number of notifications reached 84. To date, 64 were confirmed as measles cases and 15 cases, for whom laboratory results are pending, have been classified as probable. The present measles outbreak affects mostly the Roma population living in the north-eastern part of the country. The most affected age groups are young children below 1 year of age and children 1 to 9 years of age. An immunisation campaign was started in the affected administrative regions, targeting all persons from 13 months to 30 years of age who had not received the complete two-dose MMR vaccination.

An update on an ongoing measles outbreak in Bulgaria, April-November 2009.

Earlier this year, an outbreak of measles was detected in Bulgaria, following an eight-year period without indigenous measles transmission, and continues to spread in the country. By the end of 48 week of 2009 (first week of November), 957 measles cases had been recorded. Most cases are identified among the Roma community living in the north-eastern part of the country. Measles has affected infants, children and young adults. The vaccination campaign that started earlier in the year in the affected administrative regions continues, targeting all individuals from 13 months to 30 years of age who have not received the complete two-dose regimen of the combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination.

Inhibitory effect of a cyclic urea derivative on rubella virus replication.

1-(4-Morpholinomethyl)-tetrahydro-2(1H)-pyrimidinone (mopyridone) exhibited a marked activity against rubella virus (Judith and RA27/3 strains), a MIC50 value of 0.9 microM and selectivity ratio of 557.7 been found in the case of Judith strain. These data, in addition to the previous ones about its anti-alphavirus effects suggest the compound to be considered as a broad spectrum inhibitor of togavirus replication.

Standardization of measles, mumps and rubella assays to enable comparisons of seroprevalence data across 21 European countries and Australia.

The aim of the European Sero-Epidemiology Network is to establish comparability of the serological surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases in Europe. The designated reference laboratory (RL) for measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) prepared and tested a panel of 151 sera by the reference enzyme immunoassay (rEIA). Laboratories in 21 countries tested the panel for antibodies against MMR using their usual assay (a total of 16 different EIAs) and the results were plotted against the reference results in order to obtain equations for the standardization of national serum surveys. The RL also tested the panel by the plaque neutralization test (PNT). Large differences in qualitative results were found compared to the RL. Well-fitting standardization equations with R2> or =0.8 were obtained for almost all laboratories through regression of the quantitative results against those of the RL. When compared to PNT, the rEIA had a sensitivity of 95.3%, 92.8% and 100% and a specificity of 100%, 87.1% and 92.8% for measles, mumps and rubella, respectively. The need for standardization was highlighted by substantial inter-country differences. Standardization was successful and the selected standardization equations allowed the conversion of local serological results into common units and enabled direct comparison of seroprevalence data of the participating countries.