[Surveillance Plan on Recent Outbreak of Measles and Rubella in Catalonia, Spain].

Abstract

Measles and rubella are two immuno-preventive illnesses. In Catalonia, since 1988 all children are given two doses of measles and rubella vaccine with high levels of vaccination coverage. The measles elimination programme has been carried out since 1990 in Catalonia. This programme includes achieving and keeping high immunization levels among population with high vaccination coverage, intense epidemiological surveillance and an immediate response to the appearance of a case or outbreak. In 2014, the measles incidence rate was 1.9 cases/ 100,000 inhabitants. There were 4 recent outbreaks in 2006, 2011, 2013 and 2014 that affected 381, 289, 31 and 124 people respectively. All outbreaks were triggered by an imported case. In 2011 and 2014 measles outbreaks, 6% and 5.5% of affected people were health care workers. All outbreaks presented a great variety of measles genotypes. Concerning rubella elimination programme, since 2002, 68 cases of postnatal rubella and 5 cases of congenital rubella were confirmed. Regarding measles and rubella surveillance and control, in addition to strengthen vaccination coverage, it is essential immediate notification, within the first 24 hours since suspicion and laboratory confirmation. In addition there is a need to enforce vaccination among health care workers as well as in other susceptible and unvaccinated people. It is recommended to vaccinate all people who were born after 1966 and who have not been vaccinated with two doses of trivalent measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Furthermore, we have to emphasize that the progress concerning genotypes study allows identifying various imported cases from other European countries with active outbreaks, aspect that makes easier the surveillance of these illnesses.

• Authors: Mireia Jané, Nuria Torner, Ma José Vidal
• Journal: Revista espanola de salud publica (Rev Esp Salud Publica) 2015 Jul-Aug Vol. 89 Issue 4 Pg. 397-406 ISSN: 2173-9110 [Electronic] Spain
• Vernacular Title: Plan de vigilancia de brotes epidémicos recientes de sarampión y rubeola en Cataluña.
• PMID: 26580795 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Measles Vaccine
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine

Topics

• Child
• Disease Outbreaks (prevention & control)
• Epidemiological Monitoring
• Europe
• Female
• Genotype
• Health Personnel (statistics & numerical data)
• Humans
• Male
• Measles (epidemiology, prevention & control)
• Measles Vaccine (administration & dosage)
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine (administration & dosage)
• Rubella (epidemiology, prevention & control)
• Spain (epidemiology)
• Vaccination