Abstract
We report an ongoing measles outbreak in Italy, with over 4,400 cases reported in 20 Regions from January to August 2017. Median age was 27 years, 88% of the cases were unvaccinated. The highest incidence was in infants below one year of age and 7% of cases occurred among healthcare workers. Three deaths occurred and two cases of encephalitis were reported. Wide immunity gaps and nosocomial transmission are major challenges to measles elimination in Italy.
Highlights
We describe characteristics of cases reported in the first 8 months of 2017, main transmission settings, and control measures implemented
Between 1 January and 31 August 2017, 4,477 cases were reported to the surveillance system, of which 3,417 (76.3%) were laboratory confirmed (3,189 in WHO-accredited laboratories), 456 (10.2%) were probable and 604 (13.5%) were possible cases according to the European Union (EU) case definition [2]
They issued two circulars; the first one was intended to remind all regional and local health authorities of the control measures recommended by the national measles elimination plan, while the second gave more specific recommendations regarding the administration of immunoglobulins [3,4]
Summary
Ongoing outbreak with well over 4,000 measles cases in Italy from January to end August 2017 − what is making elimination so difficult?. We report an ongoing measles outbreak in Italy, with over 4,400 cases reported in 20 Regions from January to August 2017. The highest incidence was in infants below one year of age and 7% of cases occurred among healthcare workers. In January 2017, the Italian National Health Institute (Istituto Superiore di Sanità-ISS) detected an increase in the number of measles cases reported to the national measles and rubella integrated surveillance system, compared with previous months and years. We describe characteristics of cases reported in the first 8 months of 2017, main transmission settings, and control measures implemented
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