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Surveillance and vaccination coverage of measles and rubella in Northern Italy

Antonella Amendola1, Laura Bubba, Antonio Piralla

  • 1a Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health; University of Milan; Milan, Italy.

Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
|December 9, 2014
PubMed

Insights

High measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination coverage is crucial for eliminating measles and rubella viruses. Surveillance data show a decline in coverage and ongoing measles circulation, highlighting the need for improved vaccination strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Virology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Measles (MV) and rubella (RuV) are vaccine-preventable infectious diseases with humans as the sole reservoir.
  • Effective measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccines offer the potential for global eradication of MV and RuV.
  • Italy implemented a national plan in 2013 to achieve MV/RuV elimination by 2015, supported by integrated surveillance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To retrospectively evaluate MMR vaccine coverage and notified MV/RuV cases in Lombardy, Italy.
  • To present findings from active MV/RuV integrated surveillance, including laboratory confirmation and viral genetic profiling.
  • To assess the effectiveness of public health interventions aimed at MV/RuV elimination.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of MMR vaccine coverage data from 2000 to 2014.
  • Review of notified measles and rubella cases during the same period.
  • Prospective integrated surveillance for MV/RuV, including real-time RT-PCR and genetic sequencing of positive samples.

Main Results:

  • MMR vaccine coverage in Lombardy reached the 95% target in 2001, peaking at 96.6% in 2007, followed by a declining trend.
  • Significant numbers of rubella cases (3026) and measles cases (5024) were notified between 2000 and 2014, with notable outbreaks.
  • Integrated surveillance detected no rubella cases but confirmed measles in 57.5% of tested samples, with genotypes D8, D9, and B3 identified.

Conclusions:

  • Maintaining high vaccination coverage is essential for measles and rubella elimination.
  • The declining vaccination trends and persistent measles circulation underscore the need for enhanced surveillance and public health interventions.
  • Effective healthcare strategies are critical to prevent resurgence and achieve the goal of MV/RuV eradication.
Keywords:
MMR vaccineMeaslesepidemiologymeasles and rubella integrated surveillancephylogenyrubellavaccine coverage

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