Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 29, 2026

An Improved and High Throughput Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Micro-neutralization Assay
09:14

An Improved and High Throughput Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Micro-neutralization Assay

Published on: January 26, 2019

A measles outbreak among young adults in Victoria, February 2001

Natasha Davidson1, Ross Andrews, Michaela Riddell

  • 1Victorian Public Health Training Scheme, Department of Human Services, Melbourne, Australia. natasha.davidson@mh.org.au

Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report
|September 11, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Young adults in Victoria are at high risk for measles outbreaks, with many cases linked to a specific birth cohort. Targeted vaccination strategies are needed for this group and healthcare workers.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Measles outbreaks continue to pose a significant public health risk, particularly among specific demographics.
  • Young adults born between 1968 and 1981 have been identified as a vulnerable population in Victoria due to previous outbreaks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate a measles outbreak in Melbourne linked to a traveler returning from India.
  • To identify the demographic groups most affected and assess vaccination status.
  • To inform public health strategies for measles prevention.

Main Methods:

  • Case investigation following a measles-infected traveler's visit to Melbourne.
  • Analysis of case demographics, focusing on birth cohort and vaccination history.
  • Review of healthcare utilization among infected individuals.

Main Results:

  • A total of 50 measles cases were identified, primarily among young adults.
  • Seventy-five percent of cases (38 individuals) belonged to the 1968-1981 birth cohort.
  • Forty-three percent of cases (22 individuals) required hospitalization, often after multiple healthcare visits. No cases had documented adequate measles-containing vaccine doses.

Conclusions:

  • Young adults, especially those born between 1968 and 1981, represent a high-risk group for measles infection in Victoria.
  • Inadequate measles vaccination coverage within this cohort contributes to recurrent outbreaks.
  • Enhanced, targeted vaccination strategies for young adults and healthcare professionals are crucial for effective measles control.

More Related Videos

Separation of Immune Cell Subpopulations in Peripheral Blood Samples from Children with Infectious Mononucleosis08:44

Separation of Immune Cell Subpopulations in Peripheral Blood Samples from Children with Infectious Mononucleosis

Published on: September 7, 2022

Measuring Bacterial Load and Immune Responses in Mice Infected with Listeria monocytogenes12:50

Measuring Bacterial Load and Immune Responses in Mice Infected with Listeria monocytogenes

Published on: August 9, 2011

Related Concept Videos

Vaccinations01:51

Vaccinations

Overview
Investigation of Disease Outbreaks01:23

Investigation of Disease Outbreaks

Multistate foodborne outbreaks pose significant public health risks and require meticulous investigation to identify sources and implement control measures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) utilizes a dynamic seven-step process for these investigations, integrating data from laboratories, interviews, and environmental assessments to protect public health.Outbreak Detection: The detection of multistate outbreaks typically begins with PulseNet, the CDC's national laboratory...
Viral Meningitis01:18

Viral Meningitis

Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis and is often referred to as aseptic meningitis to indicate the absence of bacterial involvement. It is generally milder than bacterial meningitis, with symptoms including fever, headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, nausea, photophobia, and vomiting. Rarely, more severe manifestations or death may occur. Common causative agents include enteroviruses, particularly coxsackie A and B viruses and echoviruses, all members of the Enterovirus genus...
Diphtheria01:28

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is an acute, toxin-mediated infectious disease that primarily affects the upper respiratory tract. It is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a Gram-positive, pleomorphic rod that lacks spore-forming capability and exhibits a characteristic club-shaped morphology under microscopic examination. While C. diphtheriae can asymptomatically colonize mucosal surfaces, clinical disease manifests only when the bacterial strain is lysogenized by a specific β-corynephage. This phage...
Smallpox01:24

Smallpox

Smallpox is a severe contagious disease caused by the Variola major virus, a double-stranded DNA member of the Poxviridae family.Variola major transmission occurs primarily via inhalation of virus-laden droplets or direct contact with infectious scabs. The incubation period averages approximately seven days, although it may range from 7 to 17 days depending on the inoculum and host factors.Clinically, the prodromal phase is marked by an abrupt onset of high fever, malaise, headache, and myalgia.
Chickenpox01:20

Chickenpox

Chickenpox is an acute, highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Herpesviridae family. Its transmission occurs primarily through the inhalation of respiratory droplets or direct contact with vesicular fluid from skin lesions. The incubation period typically ranges from 10 to 21 days, during which the virus replicates and disseminates through sequential phases within the host. Although generally self-limiting in children,...