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MEASLES - SWITZERLAND (LUCERNE)(02)
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[1]
Date: Wed 11 Jul 2007
Source: Tellmed.ch [trans. from German by Franco Giovanetti, edited]
<http://www.tellmed.ch/tellmed/Presse/Masern_Epidemie_in_der_Schweiz.php>
A measles outbreak is occurring in Switzerland. According to a Swiss
website for health professionals <http://www.tellmed.ch/>, 414
measles cases were notified since January 2007. 236 of these cases
occurred in the Canton of Luzern, an area where measles immunisation
coverage is only 78 percent, whereas the national immunisation rate
is 86 percent. So far, most of the 414 cases were children or
adolescents: 334 were <19 years of age (113 in the age group 5-9
years and 92 in the age group 10-14 years). Almost all cases (about
95 percent) were unvaccinated.
Swiss health authorities are concerned because of a relatively high
rate of complications during the current outbreak: one in 10 people
was hospitalized, and severe complications like encephalitis or
pneumonia have been observed.
The outbreak is not yet over: in June 2007, at least as many cases as
in May 2007 were notified. Measles cases were also notified in other
areas of Switzerland this year [2007]: 61 in Bern, 34 in Genf
(Geneva), 16 in Zurich and 14 in Zug.
In 2002, the WHO Regional Office for Europe developed and implemented
a strategic plan targeting the elimination of measles and the
prevention of congenital rubella infection for the year 2010. Measles
incidence has decreased in Europe during the past 10 years owing to
the introduction of a 2nd dose of the measles, mumps and rubella
(MMR) vaccine into routine immunisation programs. Nevertheless,
elimination is not yet achieved: even in recent years, despite the
implementation of measles-elimination efforts, outbreaks have been
reported throughout EU countries, including Germany (1,2), United
Kingdom (3), Spain (4), Denmark and Sweden (5), Greece (6) and Italy
(7,8). These outbreaks occurred especially in communities with lower
immunisation rates; in some instances, the outbreak was related to
measles virus importation through international travels.
References
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1. van Treeck U. Measles outbreak in Germany: over 1000 cases now
reported in Nordrhein Westfalen. Euro Surveill 2006;11(5):E060511.1.
<http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ew/2006/060511.asp#1=20>.
2. van Treeck U, Wichmann O. Measles outbreak in Germany: update.
Euro Surveill 2006;11(4):E060413.1.
<http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ew/2006/060413.asp#1=20>.
3. Asaria P, MacMahon E. Measles in the United Kingdom: can we
eradicate it by 2010? BMJ 2006;333:890-895.
<http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/333/7574/890=20>.
4. Garceda-Comas L. Measles outbreak in the region of Madrid, Spain,
2006. Euro Surveill 2006;11(3):E060330.3.
<http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ew/2006/060330.asp#3=20>.
5. Muscat M, Christiansen A, Persson K, Plesner A, Bottiger B,
Glismann S, Romanus V. Measles outbreak in the Oresund region of
Denmark and Sweden. Euro Surveill 2006;11(3):E060330.4.
<http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ew/2006/060330.asp#4=20>.
6. Georgakopoulou T, Grylli C, Kalamara E, Katerelos P, Spala G,
Panagiotopoulos T. Current measles outbreak in Greece. Euro Surveill 2006;11
<http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ew/2006/060223.asp#2=20>.
7. Filia A et al. Cluster of measles cases in the Roma/Sinti
population, Italy, June-September 2006. Euro Surveill
2006;11(10):E061012.2. Available from:
<http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ew/2006/061012.asp#2>.
8. Boncompagni G, et al. Measles outbreak in Grosseto, central Italy,
2006. Euro Surveill 2006;11(8):E060803.4.
<http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ew/2006/060803.asp#4=20>.
--
Communicated by:
Dr Franco Giovanetti, MD
ASL Alba Bra - Department of Disease Prevention
Travel Medicine and Immunisation Unit
Alba, Piedmont, Italy
******
[2]
Date: Wed 11 Jul 2007
Source: The Gideon database [edited]
<http://www.gideononline.com/>
This latest outbreak in Lucerne reminds us that the goal of 95
percent measles coverage continues to elude this region of Europe. See graph at
<http://exhibit.gideononline.com/measles.Switzerland.jpg>.
--
Communicated by:
Steve Berger
Geographic Medicine
Tel Aviv Medical Center
<mberger@post.tau.ac.il>
[see also:
Measles - Switzerland (Lucerne) to be archived
Measles - Switzerland (Geneva) 20070511.1513
2001
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Measles, surveillance - Switzerland 20010614.1149
1997
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Measles - Switzerland: RFI 19970213.0353]
.....................cp/msp/mpp
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