Different measles outbreaks in Belgium, January to June 2016 - a challenge for public health

Tine Grammens; Virginie Maes; Veronik Hutse; Valeska Laisnez; Carole Schirvel; Jean Marie Trémérie; Martine Sabbe

doi:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2016.21.32.30313

Different measles outbreaks in Belgium, January to June 2016 - a challenge for public health

Euro Surveill. 2016 Aug 11;21(32):30313. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2016.21.32.30313.

Authors

Tine Grammens¹, Virginie Maes, Veronik Hutse, Valeska Laisnez, Carole Schirvel, Jean Marie Trémérie, Martine Sabbe

Affiliation

¹ Service of Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, Department of Public Health and Surveillance, Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels, Belgium.

PMID: 27541858
PMCID: PMC4998501
DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2016.21.32.30313

Abstract

During the first half of 2016, several outbreaks of measles were reported in the three regions of Belgium. Main challenges for public health were severe complications occurring in adults, nosocomial transmission and infection in healthcare workers. Here, we describe those outbreaks and lessons learnt for public health.

Keywords: Measles; elimination; epidemiology; outbreak; vaccine-preventable diseases.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Age Distribution
Belgium / epidemiology
Child
Child, Preschool
Contact Tracing
Cross Infection / epidemiology*
Disease Outbreaks*
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Personnel
Hospitals
Humans
Immunoglobulin M / blood
Infant
Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / statistics & numerical data*
Male
Measles / epidemiology*
Measles / prevention & control
Measles / transmission*
Measles Vaccine / therapeutic use
Middle Aged
Public Health*
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Vaccination
Young Adult

Substances

Immunoglobulin M
Measles Vaccine