Progress towards measles and rubella elimination in Tuscany, Italy: the role of population seroepidemiological profile.
Eur J Public Health
; 22(1): 133-9, 2012 Feb.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-20880991
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
As a part of the National Plan for Measles and Congenital Rubella Elimination, a catch-up campaign targeting children aged 7-14 years with Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine was conducted during 2004-05 in Tuscany, Central Italy.METHODS:
To assess the profile of measles and rubella susceptibility, immunoglobulin G antibodies against measles (945 subjects) and rubella (1110 subjects) were detected using two commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests in sera from a population aged 1-49 years.RESULTS:
Overall immunity towards measles increased in the last years, but the WHO-Euro recommended threshold of susceptibility for elimination was attained only in 2- to 4-year-olds. All fertile women up to 29 years had rates of susceptibility clearly higher than those required by WHO-Euro (5%) to eliminate congenital rubella. Despite the reduction of susceptibility among subjects targeted by the catch-up campaign, continuous efforts to increase immunization coverage are needed to eliminate measles and rubella circulation. Our results are predictive of a high chance of measles and rubella outbreaks because of the accumulation of susceptible individuals.CONCLUSION:
Additional catch-up vaccination strategies targeting the adult population (particularly fertile women) are strongly needed to eliminate the risk of measles and congenital rubella syndrome for future generations.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Rubella
/
Measles
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
/
Screening_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
En
Journal:
Eur J Public Health
Journal subject:
EPIDEMIOLOGIA
/
SAUDE PUBLICA
Year:
2012
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Italia