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Published Date: 2012-02-12 22:04:07
Subject: PRO/EDR> Measles update 2012 (07)
Archive Number: 20120212.1040039

MEASLES UPDATE 2012 (07)
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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In this update:

Europe
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[1] Ukraine
[2] Russia (South - Volgograd, the Stavropol region, Chechnya & North Ossetia)
[3] UK (England - Bristol)
[4] UK (England - South West (Bristol, Bath, North Somerset))

The Americas
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[5] & [6] USA (Indiana)

Asia
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[7] India (Himachall Pradesh)

Oceania
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[8] Australia (South Australia)

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Europe
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[1] Ukraine
Date: Wed 8 Feb 2012
Source: Ukraine Radio [edited]
http://www.nrcu.gov.ua/index.php?id=148&listid=163570

More measles cases reported in Ukraine
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From the beginning of the year, the number of measles cases in Ukraine has reached 2826. Most of them are in Lviv region, in the west of the country. This is what the Ministry of Health said in a statement.

In Kyiv, from 1 Jan to 6 Feb 2012, there were 22 cases. In other administrative territories of Ukraine since the beginning of the year isolated cases of suspected measles have been recorded (169).

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[The HealthMap interactive map of Ukraine can be accessed at: http://healthmap.org/r/1z-2?. - Mod.CP]

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[2] Russia (South - Volgograd, the Stavropol region, Chechnya & North Ossetia)
Date: Fri 6 Feb 2012
Source: Life News [In Russian, trans. by CP, abbreviated & edited]
http://www.lifenews.ru/news/81474

A measles outbreak in southern Russia has affected 100 people and caused one death
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The areas affected included Volgograd, the Stavropol region, Chechnya and North Ossetia. Six residents of the Volgograd region were hospitalized with a diagnosis of "measles", one of whom -- a child died. In the Chechen Republic 25 cases were registered and 37 in North Ossetia and Stavropol.

Four men and 2 women were removed from a Nizhnevartovsk-Volgograd train at Volgograd Station-1, after complaint of feeling unwell. They were taken to Infectious diseases hospital No. 1. Their condition was reported to be comfortable. The affected passengers included a 20-year-old man, 2 brothers aged 19 and 23 years, and a friend who boarded the train at Saratov. Later the hospital received 2 women from another train, also diagnosed with measles. The relevant carriages of the trains will be treated with disinfectant.

Several young people affected by the infection discharged themselves from hospital without notifying doctors. These people were travelling from a Roma community in Saratov where measles infection was rife. The hospital doctors believe that these fugitives were not aware of the danger and had returned home to the street in Volgograd where they lived. It is expected that they will be returned to the hospital under police escort so that they do not spread infection in their community.

According to the Office of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare in the Volgograd region as a consequence of the epidemic throughout Europe it is likely that measles will will spread through neighbouring countries.

Unvaccinated people and those not previously exposed to measles are at risk. Measles is particularly dangerous for children under one year of age and the elderly because of the likelihood of complications. 'Life News' has has been informed that a year-old child died on New Year's Eve as a result of complications following measles virus infection. In this instance assistance was sought by Roma parents too late in the progression of the child's illness. In fact it is considered that the Roma community are principally responsible for the spread of the disease.

[Byline: Anna Selivanova]

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[3] UK (England - Bristol
Date: Wed 8 Feb 2012
Source: BBC News Bristol [abbreviated & edited]
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-16950270

Rise in measles cases in Bristol 'unprecedented'
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Doctors in the Bristol area say they are worried about a rise in the number of cases of measles. In 2011, 30 people contracted the virus in the greater Bristol area compared with 5 in 2010.

Prof Adam Finn, a consultant at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, said last month [January 2012] he dealt with 3 cases. "Some have been significantly ill -- it's unprecedented -- I've certainly never seen it in the 10 years I've been working in Bristol," he said. "The last time we were seeing measles cases was 20 years ago or more in the 1980s," Prof Finn added.

It is believed the rise is due to the falling number of children being vaccinated -- possibly because of earlier unfounded scares over the MMR vaccine. The increase in cases locally reflects a trend observed across England and Europe.

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[A map of the county of Somerset showing the location of Bristol can be accessed at: http://www.visitsomerset.co.uk/map. - Mod.CP]

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[4] UK (England - South West (Bristol, Bath, North Somerset))
Date:Thu 9 Feb 2012
Source: 106 Jackfm radio, Bristol [edited]
http://www.jackbristol.com/news/bristols-news/measles-cases-on-the-up-7299/

Measles Cases On The Up
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Parents in the South West are being urged to make sure their children are protected from measles. The warning has come from NHS [National Health Service] Bristol, Bath and North Somerset, who've said there has been a series of confirmed cases of the disease across the South West.

In 2010, a total of 5 cases were reported across the former Avon area. But, in 2011, confirmed cases increased to 30 -- with over half of those cases in children under 16 years old. A spokesperson said that in recent years, not enough children have been fully vaccinated and so they are susceptible to infection. When they get measles, they pass it on to others.

Almost a quarter of children aged 5 in Bristol have not received 2 doses of the vaccine, so may be at risk of getting infected. In South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset areas at least one in 10 5-year olds are not fully protected. Adam Finn, Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Bristol and a Consultant at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children said: "We are reminding parents and young adults that measles can be a severe infection.

"One in 1000 cases is fatal and many more become seriously ill. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are necessary to provide protection."

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[A map of the South West of England can be accessed at: http://www.creatingexcellence.org.uk/modules/RegionalMap/pnimages/map.gif. - Mod.CP]

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The Americas
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[5] USA (Indiana)
Date: Wed 8 Feb 2012
Source: wthr.com Indianapolis [abbreviated & edited]
http://www.wthr.com/story/16769871/two-measles-cases-confirmed-in-central-indiana

Two measles cases confirmed in central Indiana
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The State Health Department confirms they have been notified of 2 cases of measles. One case is in Boone County and the other case is in Hamilton County. According to health officials, one of the infected people was in the crowd during Super Bowl festivities last Friday [3 Feb 2012]. They say that the person did not go into the NFL Experience at the Indiana Convention Center.

Health officials also say they're looking into 2 additional probable measles cases in Boone County, for a total of four. The Health Department says it's working with local health departments and health care providers to identify additional cases of measles, and to prevent further transmission of the disease. They're also working with the Centers for Disease Control, as well as health officials in New York and Massachusetts.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus. It is rare in the United States due to high levels of vaccination with the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine; however, unvaccinated visitors from other countries can transmit measles to unvaccinated people in the U.S., or unvaccinated U.S. citizens traveling abroad can become infected during travel. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent transmission.

More than 95 percent of people who receive a single dose of MMR will develop immunity to measles, and more than 99 percent will be protected after receiving a 2nd dose. Two doses of the vaccine are needed to be fully protected. Individuals are encouraged to check with their health care providers to ensure vaccinations are up-to-date. Children are routinely vaccinated for measles at 1 year of age, and again at 4-6 years of age before going to kindergarten, but children as young as 6 months old can receive the measles vaccine if they are at risk. Individuals born before 1957 are presumed to be immune to measles. If you are unsure about your vaccination history, check with your health care provider, as they have access to vaccination records for many Hoosiers through the Indiana Immunization Registry known as CHIRP.

Some parents do not let their children get vaccinated because of unfounded fears that the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, can cause autism. Large studies of thousands of children have found no connection between this vaccine and autism. Not vaccinating children can lead to outbreaks of a measles, mumps, and rubella -- all of which are potentially serious diseases of childhood.

--
Communicated by:
Brent Barrett
Indiana
<salbrent@sbcglobal.net>

A map showing the locations of the counties of Indiana can be accessed at: http://www.indianajustice.org/Home/PublicWeb/LegalSvcs/CountyMap. - Mod.CP]

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[6] USA (Indiana)
Date: Wed 8 Feb 2012
Source: WISHTV 8 [edited]
http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/indiana/village-visitors-may-have-been-exposed-to-measles

Super Bowl Village visitors on Friday may have been exposed to measles
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Visitors to Super Bowl Village on Friday [3 Feb 2012] may have been exposed to a highly contagious disease, health officials said, and multiple health departments are collaborating to respond to the potential threat. Tuesday night [7 Feb 2012], the state Department of Health confirmed they have requested information from county health departments as part of an investigation into a report that a person who has been diagnosed with measles attended the festivities Friday [3 Feb 2012].

Officials say up to 4 people have measles. The state Health Department sent an alert to health professionals Monday afternoon that 2 cases of measles have been confirmed, one in Boone County and the other in Hamilton County. The state would not say which of the people visited Super Bowl Village, but noted he or she did not attend the NFL Experience.

According to the Super Bowl Host Committee, 200 000 people were at Super Bowl Village on Friday [3 Feb 2012]. At the free concerts late Friday night, 35 000 people were gathered to see LMFAO's performance. It is still unclear what time the ill person visited downtown Indianapolis.

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[As of Sun 12 Feb 2012 there has been no report of transmission of measles attributable to attendance at the Super Bowl event. - Mod.CP]

******

Asia
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[7] India (Himachal Pradesh)
Date: Fri 10 Feb 2012
Source: IANS Live [abbreviated & edited]
http://www.ianslive.in/index.php?param=news/383585/NATION/1

Last week more than a hundred children were reported with measles in 3 blocks of Sirmaur district.

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*****

Oceania
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[8] Australia (South Australia)
Date: Wed 8 Feb 2012
Source: 7 News, Adelaide [edited]
http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/12847286/alert-issued-over-second-measles-case/

Alert issued over 2nd measles case
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An urgent alert has been issued by South Australia (SA) Health over the 2nd confirmed case of measles in 2 weeks. A 44-year-old woman from metropolitan Adelaide has been diagnosed, and linked to the initial measles case reported a fortnight ago.

SA Health's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paddy Phillips said the woman had been to a number of public locations. He advised anyone who went there during the same times to monitor themselves for the symptoms of measles. "Be alert for symptoms over the 2 weeks after that potential exposure and if they are ill to see a doctor."

The woman had visited several places in Adelaide's western suburbs:

- Tuesday 31st January, West Lakes Shopping Centre, 10am -2pm;
- Wednesday 1st February, Cyprus Community Club, 8 Barpowell Rd, Welland, 10:00am -3:00pm;
- Thursday 2nd February, Uniting Care Wesley Adelaide, Mile End, 9.30am -12pm;
- Thursday 2nd February, Thebarton Neighbourhood House 10 Falcon Ave, Mile End,10am -4 pm;
- Thursday 2nd February, AMF Woodville Bowls 12pm -3.30pm;
- Friday 3rd February, Cheltenham Community Centre, 62 Stroud Street North, Cheltenham 9:30am-5:00pm; and
- Friday 3rd February, on the 10.40am train from Cheltenham to the City;
- Friday 3rd February, Jasper's Coffee shop, Adelaide 11am-2pm;
- Friday 3rd February, on the 12.07 pm train from the City to Cheltenham.

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[A map of South Australia showing the location of Adelaide can be accessed at: http://atn.com.au/sa/south/graphics/sth-map.jpg. - Mod.CP]

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