Susceptibility of young offenders to measles and rubella: an antibody prevalence study using oral fluid samples

Three hundred and two oral fluid samples collected in January 2001 from male young offenders aged 18 to 21 years at HMP Hindley were screened for measles and rubella specific IgG, using 'in-house' amplified ELISA assays. MMR (measles/mumps/rubella) vaccine, offered at the same time, was accepted by 68.1% of the prisoners (92.7% of those agreeing to oral fluid antibody testing). Antibody prevalences were 92.1% for rubella and 80.8% for measles. This may, however, underestimate true prevalence as the sensitivity of the oral fluid assays used may be relatively poor in adults. Susceptibility levels are theoretically high enough to result in outbreaks should either infection enter this closed institutional environment. Since a measles outbreak would carry significant morbidity and rubella would represent a risk to associated non-immune women of childbearing age, it is suggested that prison health services should offer MMR to young offenders on entry.