Analysis of Measles Incidence in Russia and Problems of Measles Prevention at the Elimination Stage

Abstract

The review analyses measles incidence in Russia at the elimination stage. Epidemiological studies have revealed changes in the measles epidemic process in Russia. It was shown that whereas the specificity of the epidemic process in the pre-vaccination period was mainly determined by the influence of the infectious agent, lately the impact of the social factor has increased. There was an increase in the impact of decreed groups on maintaining the circulation of the virus in the Russian Federation. The aim of the study was to analyse the specificity of the measles epidemic process in Russia, to identify the major current problems of measles vaccination, to reveal reasons that prevent measles elimination in the country given the present environment, and to formulate possible ways of solving them. The article demonstrates the role of migration processes within the country and infection importation from neighboring territories in the rise of disease outbreaks. The article discusses Russian regulatory documents that are devoted to combating the spread of measles, their consistent replacement and refinement bearing in mind the changing epidemiological situation and the current WHO criteria and guidelines for the infection elimination. High-level epidemiological surveillance of the infection is a key factor in choosing the optimal strategy of measles vaccination. The article lists indicators of epidemiological surveillance effectiveness. It also highlights the importance of molecular genetic monitoring of the measles pathogen. The authors outline measures that are necessary to achieve measles elimination in the Russian Federation given the current epidemiological situation.

Immunological Protection Against Vaccine-Preventable Infections (Hepatitis B, Measles, Rubella, Mumps, Diphtheria, Tetanus) of Russian and Foreign Students: A Simultaneous Study

“…Защищенными считаются те люди, уровень антител которых достигает защитного или выше [8]. Тенденция к росту заболеваемости вакциноуправляемыми инфекциями, в частности кори, обусловлена низким уровнем иммунологической защищенности населения, а также миграционными процессами [9]. Одной из составляющих этих миграционных процессов являются студенты-иностранцы.…”

“…Минимальный защитный уровень антител устанавливали согласно рекомендациям [9] при их концентрации к HBsAg > 0,01 МЕ/мл, вирусу краснухи > 10 МЕ/мл, при титре к столбнячному анатоксину 1:20; дифтерийному анатоксину 1:40, вирусу эпидемического паротита 1:10, кори 1:4.…”

Epidemiology and features of the measles course in children during the outbreak of 2018–2019 in the city of Mariupol

“…Measles has been known to mankind since ancient times and justified the name "baby plague" because it was characterized by high morbidity and high mortality rates (Timchenko et al, 2017;Zhanga et al, 2017;Portnoy et al, 2018). Prior to the introduction of the measles vaccination, globally about 130 million people suffered from this were disease annually, more than 2.5 million of them died (Artemova & Kulichenko, 2017;Marusik, 2017;Yunasova et al, 2019). The second period in the evolution of measles treatment is associated with the use of antibiotics, which has led to a reduction in complications and a significant reduction in mortality.…”

“…Due to the WHO's campaign of measles vaccination performed during 2000-2015, measles mortality rates have decreased by 79% in the world (Doshi et al, 2017;Yunasova et al, 2019). At the same time, in 2010, there were 139,300 deaths from measles worldwide, in 2014 mortality was not so high -slightly less than 115,000 cases, but it made almost 380 cases per day, or 15 cases per hour (Verguet et al, 2015;Timchenko et al, 2017;Portnoy et al, 2018).…”

“…Multiple increase in the incidence of measles in Europe remains to this day. In 2018 measles was registered on the American continent (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, Canada, and the United States) as well as in 28 European countries (Yunasova et al, 2019). In 2018, over 82,000 people were infected with measles in 47 countries out of 53, which is three times more than in 2017 and 15 times more than in 2016, with 72 fatal cases (Molochkova еt al., 2019).…”