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Measles outbreak associated with an imported case in an infant--Alabama, 2002

    MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
    |January 23, 2004
    PubMed

    Insights

    Measles outbreaks in the U.S. are rare and often stem from imported cases. An Alabama daycare outbreak in 2002, the largest since 1999, was traced to an infant returning from the Philippines.

    Area of Science:

    • Epidemiology
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Public Health

    Background:

    • Local measles transmission is infrequent in the United States.
    • Most measles outbreaks since 1997 originate from imported cases.
    • Unvaccinated populations, such as young children in daycare settings, are highly susceptible.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the cause and extent of a 2002 measles outbreak in Alabama.
    • To identify the index case and transmission pathways of the measles outbreak.
    • To inform public health strategies for preventing future measles importation and spread.

    Main Methods:

    • Conducted an epidemiologic investigation in response to the outbreak.
    • Interviewed cases and reviewed vaccination records.
    • Traced the origin of the outbreak to an imported case.

    Main Results:

    • A measles outbreak involving 13 confirmed cases occurred in Alabama between October 19 and November 15, 2002.
    • Eleven of the 13 cases were unvaccinated day care attendees.
    • The outbreak was initiated by a 9-month-old infant who had recently traveled from the Philippines.

    Conclusions:

    • Imported measles cases can lead to significant outbreaks, especially in unvaccinated populations.
    • Healthcare providers must maintain a high index of suspicion for measles in febrile rash illnesses, particularly in infants with relevant travel history.
    • Strengthening vaccination efforts and border control measures are crucial for measles prevention.

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