Molecular Genotyping and Epidemiology of Measles Virus Transmission in the World Health Organization European Region, 2007-2009

Background. In 2002, the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted a goal to eliminate measles in the European Region by 2010. Measles elimination is defined as the interruption of indigenous measles virus (MV) transmission. The molecular epidemiology of MV transmission in the WHO European Region was...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 2011-07, Vol.204 (suppl_1), p.S335-S342
Main Authors: Mankertz, Annette, Mulders, Mick N., Shulga, Sergey, Kremer, Jacques R., Brown, Kevin E., Santibanez, Sabine, Muller, Claude P., Tikhonova, Nina, Lipskaya, Galina, Jankovic, Dragan, Khetsuriani, Nino, Martin, Rebecca, Gavrilin, Eugene
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Censuses
Disease transmission
Europe - epidemiology
EUROPEAN REGION
Genotype
Genotypes
Geographic regions
Humans
Measles
Measles - epidemiology
Measles - transmission
Measles - virology
Measles virus
Measles virus - classification
Measles virus - genetics
Molecular Epidemiology
Phylogeny
Population Surveillance
Rubella
Surveillance
Vaccination
Viruses
World Health Organization - organization & administration
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Background. In 2002, the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted a goal to eliminate measles in the European Region by 2010. Measles elimination is defined as the interruption of indigenous measles virus (MV) transmission. The molecular epidemiology of MV transmission in the WHO European Region was studied through the investigation of reported cases and outbreaks to monitor the region's progress toward its measles elimination goal. Methods. National and regional laboratories performed molecular characterization of MV detected between 2007 and 2009 in the WHO European Region. To document indigenous transmission and importations into the region, we analyzed genotyping results and epidemiological data on measles outbreaks reported by the member states. Results. Since 2007, MV genotype D6 has not been reported in the WHO European Region, suggesting that its chains of transmission have been interrupted, whereas several other MV genotypes are still circulating. Although several European countries have already interrupted indigenous MV transmission, genotyping showed that 3 endemic MV transmission chains have been reestablished in other countries. Conclusions. The WHO European Region 2010 goal will not be met, as indigenous transmission of MV has not been interrupted. As the region begins to document its process of elimination verification to monitor progress toward the goal, countries will need to ensure that genotyping is performed in all measles outbreaks.
ISSN:0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI:10.1093/infdis/jir101