Epidemiology and Infection
Volume 146, Issue 13, 2018, Pages 1692-1698

Ongoing measles outbreak in Greece related to the recent European-wide epidemic (Article) (Open Access)

Georgakopoulou T.* , Horefti E. , Vernardaki A. , Pogka V. , Gkolfinopoulou K. , Triantafyllou E. , Tsiodras S. , Theodoridou M. , Mentis A. , Panagiotopoulos T.
  • a Department of Epidemiological Surveillance and Intervention, Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece
  • b National Measles Reference Laboratory, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
  • c Department of Epidemiological Surveillance and Intervention, Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece
  • d National Measles Reference Laboratory, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
  • e Department of Epidemiological Surveillance and Intervention, Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece
  • f Department of Epidemiological Surveillance and Intervention, Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece
  • g Department of Epidemiological Surveillance and Intervention, Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece
  • h National Verification Committee for Measles and Rubella, Athens, Greece
  • i National Measles Reference Laboratory, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
  • j Department of Epidemiological Surveillance and Intervention, Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece

Abstract

We report an ongoing measles outbreak in Greece. The first cases were notified through the mandatory notification system on May 2017 in Northern Greece and concerned a cluster of three imported cases in unvaccinated Roma siblings. So far, 3150 cases have been reported in all 13 Regions. Initially, the outbreak mainly affected Greek Roma but as it progressed it spread to non-minority Greek nationals. The outbreak reached its ultimate peak on week 10/2018 but from week 15/2018 has been gradually declining. Most cases (60.6%) were Roma (especially children <10 year-old) followed by non-minority Greek nationals (29.3%; mostly young adults). The majority (80.4%) were unvaccinated. Interestingly, 129 (4.1%) cases were healthcare workers (HCWs). Genotype B3 was identified by molecular methods in all 87 cases tested. Overall, 61.3% of the cases were hospitalised. Complications were reported in 17.1% of the cases among which four deaths. The outbreak occurred after 3 years without local endemic measles transmission. Extensive vaccination implemented as the major public health measure managed to prevent the emergence of a large number of cases in refugee/migrant hosting sites. Mitigation efforts currently focus on raising awareness among HCWs and closing the immunisation gap in populations with suboptimal vaccination coverage. © Cambridge University Press 2018.

Author Keywords

measles Greece outbreak Epidemiology

Index Keywords

genetics genotype molecular genetics Greek (people) sibling refugee public health service health survey European health care personnel Population Surveillance human middle aged statistics and numerical data controlled study Aged death nonhuman Young Adult school child migrant Humans Adolescent Infant, Newborn male preschool child Aged, 80 and over Infant very elderly Child, Preschool measles vaccination newborn female Greece population research Measles virus Disease Outbreaks Article epidemic Disease Notification measles vaccine major clinical study adult awareness virus transmission health care system vaccination measles Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85052615558&doi=10.1017%2fS0950268818002170&partnerID=40&md5=2108c3b5f2551cc4ae0abcd29cc77a80
DOI: 10.1017/S0950268818002170
ISSN: 09502688
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English