Measles outbreak from February to August 2017 in Messina, Italy

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Control

Background:

• Measles remains a significant global public health concern, causing high rates of illness and death.
• Italy has experienced endemic measles, with over 5,000 cases reported between 2013-2016.
• Sicily, including Messina, reported numerous measles cases in 2017.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the measles outbreak in Messina, Italy, from February to August 2017.
• To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and vaccination status of measles cases during the outbreak.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of all reported measles cases in the Messina province.
• Inclusion of confirmed, possible, and probable cases reported to the Public Health, Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine unit.
• Data collection on patient demographics, vaccination history, and measles virus genotyping.

Main Results:

• A total of 59 measles cases were reported, with 44 confirmed, 9 possible, and 4 probable.
• The majority of cases (54%) were male, and a significant 95% were unvaccinated.
• Measles virus genotype B3 was identified in 88.6% of confirmed cases.

Conclusions:

• Suboptimal measles immunization levels in Italy contribute to increased disease transmission.
• The Messina outbreak underscores the public health threat posed by measles despite available vaccination.
• Addressing vaccination gaps is crucial for measles elimination efforts.