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Outbreak of measles in Central and Eastern Cheshire, UK, October 2008-February 2009

S Ghebrehewet1, G Hayhurst, A Keenan

  • 1Cheshire and Mersey Health Protection Unit, Liverpool L1 1JF, UK. sam.ghebrehewet@hpa.org.uk

Epidemiology and Infection
|November 10, 2012
PubMed

Insights

The largest measles outbreak in over 20 years occurred in Cheshire, England, primarily affecting unvaccinated children, including those from the travelling community. This highlights the critical need for high vaccination rates to maintain herd immunity and prevent disease spread.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • The UK introduced the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine in 1988.
  • Measles outbreaks can occur when vaccination rates decline, leaving populations susceptible.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the largest measles outbreak in Central and Eastern Cheshire since 1988.
  • To identify the characteristics of cases and factors contributing to the outbreak's spread.

Main Methods:

  • Clinical cases of measles were notified to the Cheshire & Merseyside Health Protection Unit (CMHPU).
  • Cases were classified based on laboratory confirmation, negativity, equivocal results, or probability.
  • Epidemiological data, including age and community of affected individuals, were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • 147 clinical cases of measles were notified over four months.
  • 67 cases were laboratory-confirmed, with a significant proportion (22.4%) being infants under 13 months.
  • The outbreak primarily affected unvaccinated children, including those from the travelling community, and spread through 23 educational institutions.

Conclusions:

  • The outbreak underscores the importance of high vaccination coverage to achieve herd immunity.
  • Susceptible populations, particularly unvaccinated children and infants too young for vaccination, are at high risk during measles outbreaks.
  • Maintaining high MMR vaccine uptake is crucial for preventing widespread measles transmission and protecting public health.

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