Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 22, 2026
Author Spotlight: Advancements in Multiplex Detection of Respiratory Viruses
Published on: November 10, 2023
An Outbreak of Measles in a University in Korea, 2014
Young June Choe1,2, Young Joon Park3, Ju Whi Kim3
1Seoul Center for Infectious Disease Control, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract:
Measles has been declared eliminated from the Korea since 2006. In April 2014, a measles outbreak occurred at a University in Seoul. A total of 85 measles cases were identified. In order to estimate vaccine effectiveness of measles vaccine, we reviewed the vaccination records of the university students. The vaccine effectiveness of two doses of measles containing vaccine was 60.0% (95% CI, 38.2-74.1; P < 0.05). Transmission was interrupted after the introduction of outbreak-response immunization. The outbreak shows that pockets of under-immunity among college students may have facilitated the disease transmission despite the high 2-dose vaccination coverage in the community.
Insights
Measles outbreaks can occur even with high vaccination rates. This study found two-dose measles vaccine effectiveness was 60%, highlighting the risk of under-immunized groups in communities.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Immunology
- Public Health
Background:
- Measles elimination was declared in Korea in 2006.
- A measles outbreak occurred in a Seoul university in April 2014, with 85 cases identified.
- This highlighted potential risks despite high community vaccination coverage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the vaccine effectiveness of the measles vaccine during the Seoul university outbreak.
- To understand transmission dynamics in a population with high overall vaccination rates but potential under-immunized pockets.
Main Methods:
- Review of vaccination records of university students involved in the outbreak.
- Calculation of vaccine effectiveness for two doses of measles-containing vaccine.
- Analysis of transmission interruption following outbreak-response immunization.
Main Results:
- The vaccine effectiveness of two doses of measles-containing vaccine was estimated at 60.0% (95% CI, 38.2-74.1).
- Measles transmission was successfully interrupted after implementing outbreak-response immunization.
- The findings suggest that localized areas of under-immunity can facilitate disease spread.
Conclusions:
- Despite high community vaccination coverage, pockets of under-immunity among college students can contribute to measles outbreaks.
- Outbreak-response immunization is effective in interrupting measles transmission.
- Maintaining high vaccination coverage and identifying at-risk groups are crucial for preventing future outbreaks.
