Features of a Measles Outbreak in the Elimination Era

In 2000, the circulation of indigenous measles was interrupted in Catalonia as a result of the activities of the elimination programme introduced in 1991. However, various transmission chains occurred in the indigenous population after the introduction of an imported case, and this caused a total change in the existing situation of elimination. The objective of this study was to analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the measles outbreak in Catalonia in 2006. Cases reported between August 28 2006 and July 8 2007 were collected. Cases were microbiologically confirmed by determination of measles-specific IgM and/or detection of the viral genome in urine samples. A total of 381 cases of measles were confirmed, representing an incidence of 6.6 per 100,000 inhabitants. Laboratory confirmation was made in 87.1% of the cases and all specimens sequenced belonged to the D4 genotype. A total of 89.5% of the cases occurred in non-vaccinated people, above all in infants aged <16 months.