Document Detail


An outbreak of measles in an ultra-orthodox Jewish community in Jerusalem, Israel, 2007--an in-depth report.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  18445412     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Measles elimination in Europe is hindered by recurrent outbreaks, typically in non-immunised specific sub-populations. In 2003 and 2004, two measles outbreaks occurred in Jewish ultra-orthodox communities in Jerusalem, Israel. In 2007, another measles outbreak emerged in Jerusalem. Epidemiological investigation and control activities were initiated. Three measles cases (15 years old, 22 years old and an infant; all unvaccinated) were diagnosed in Jerusalem in August 2007. All three belonged to Jewish ultra-orthodox communities in London, United Kingdom, and had had contact with patients in London. The epidemiological investigation did not reveal any connection between these cases other than their place of origin. The disease spread rapidly in extremely ultra-orthodox sub-groups in Jerusalem. Until 8 January 2008, 491 cases were reported. Most patients (70%) were young children (0-14 years old), 96% unimmunized. Frequently, all the children in a large family were infected; two thirds of the cases belonged to family clusters of more than two patients per family (in part due to non-compliance with post-exposure prophylaxis recommendations). The high age-specific incidence among infants 0-1-year- (408.5/100,000) and 1-4-year-olds (264.1/100,000) is a cause for concern. The hospitalisation rate was 15% (71/491), mainly due to fever, patients (26.7%) presented with pneumonitis or pneumonia and two patients presented with encephalitis. There have not been any deaths to date. The outbreak was apparently caused by measles importation into unprotected groups. Despite a high national immunisation coverage (94-95%), programmes to increase and maintain immunisation coverage are essential, with special focus on specific sub-populations.
Authors:
C Stein-Zamir; N Abramson; H Shoob; G Zentner
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article     Date:  2008-02-21
Journal Detail:
Title:  Euro surveillance : bulletin européen sur les maladies transmissibles = European communicable disease bulletin     Volume:  13     ISSN:  1560-7917     ISO Abbreviation:  Euro Surveill.     Publication Date:  2008 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-04-30     Completed Date:  2008-05-28     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  100887452     Medline TA:  Euro Surveill     Country:  Sweden    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  -     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Jerusalem District Health Office, Ministry of Health, Israel. chen@lbjer.health.gov.il
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
Child
Child, Preschool
Disease Outbreaks / prevention & control,  statistics & numerical data*
Female
Humans
Incidence
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Israel / epidemiology
Jews / statistics & numerical data*
Male
Measles / epidemiology*,  prevention & control
Measles Vaccine / therapeutic use*
Middle Aged
Population Surveillance*
Risk Assessment / methods
Risk Factors
Vaccination / statistics & numerical data*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Measles Vaccine

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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