Measles still spreads in Europe: who is responsible for the failure to vaccinate?

Abstract

All countries in the European Region of the World Health Organization (WHO) have renewed their commitment to eliminate measles transmission by 2015. Measles elimination is a feasible target but requires vaccination coverage above 95% with two doses of a measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) in all population groups and in all geographical areas. Measles has re-emerged in the EU recently, due to suboptimal immunization levels that led to accumulation of susceptible populations over the last years. In fact, while an overall decreasing trend had been observed until 2009, the number of cases increased by a factor of four between 2010 and 2011. According to vaccination coverage data reported to the WHO, between 2000 and 2010, almost 5 million individuals in the EU in the age group 2-12 had not had MMR vaccination. Catch-up vaccination activities for susceptible populations are paramount in order to reach the elimination goal, but only feasible if a multi-component approach is put in place quickly and efficiently. Advocacy and communication are key strategic areas.

Infection of lymphoid tissues in the macaque upper respiratory tract contributes to the emergence of transmissible measles virus

“…An important consequence of such a high rate of virus transmission is that vaccine coverage of greater than 95 % is required to eliminate endemic transmission (Anderson & May, 1982). This increases the complexity and difficulty of MV eradication, even in the developed world where the numbers of measles cases have increased in recent years due to poor adherence to MV vaccination regimes (Carrillo-Santisteve & Lopalco, 2012). However, despite a multitude of epidemiological investigations into outbreaks of measles, the specific underlying pathological mechanisms responsible for the high transmissibility of MV from infected to susceptible individuals are still unknown.…”

Antiviral Activity of Favipiravir (T-705) against a Broad Range of Paramyxoviruses In Vitro and against Human Metapneumovirus in Hamsters

“…Measles virus, yet another paramyxovirus, is responsible for a devastating disease which the WHO committed to eradicate with the aid of effective vaccines. However, due to suboptimal immunization levels, resurgences in infections have been detected, and there is no effective antiviral treatment available for measles virusinfected patients (6)(7)(8). Paramyxoviruses are well known for their zoonotic potential: avian pneumovirus (AMPV) is the proposed avian ancestor of HMPV, and the avian Newcastle disease virus (NDV) can cause disease-primarily conjunctivitis-in humans (9)(10)(11).…”

Risk Factors and Complications in Measles Mortalities

“…Measles was decreasing in countries of European Union until 2009 but has re-emerged in 2010-2011 due to unvaccinated population of about 5 million in the age group of 2-12 years [22].…”