Abstract
Following an incidence rate of 1/100,000 inhabitants in 2006 [1], Italy has been facing an upsurge of measles cases since September 2007, with outbreaks being reported in various regions. In Italy, measles vaccination is currently offered free of charge as combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. The current national vaccination schedule recommends two doses of MMR vaccine, given respectively at 11-12 months and 5-6 years of age. Although childhood vaccination coverage has increased in recent years, reaching the national average of 88% in 2006 (source: Ministry of Health), with some regional variability (Figure 1), it is still below the target of 95% set by the National Measles Elimination Plan (MEP) launched in 2003 [2], and outbreaks continue to occur.
Highlights
The first case was a 17-year-old girl who developed symptoms two days after returning to Italy from the United Kingdom
Discussion some progress has been made in Italy since the implementation of the Measles Elimination Plan (MEP), as shown by the increase in routine immunisation coverage and the introduction of a routine second dose, the ongoing outbreaks indicate that much still needs to be done
Molecular characterisation studies indicate that the first case reported in the Piemonte region was imported from the United Kingdom [6] showing the importance of international efforts in controlling the current upsurge of the disease in Europe [7-9]
Summary
Following an incidence rate of 1/100,000 inhabitants in 2006 [1], Italy has been facing an upsurge of measles cases since September 2007, with outbreaks being reported in various regions. Since September, clusters of cases and larger outbreaks have been detected in 15 of the 21 Italian regions, with the monthly number of nationally reported cases reaching a peak of 434 cases in February 2008 (Figure 2). Using national age-specific population figures as denominators, adolescents aged 15-19 years had the highest incidence rate, followed by infants (
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