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. 2013 Mar;19(3):357-64.
doi: 10.3201/eid1903.121360.

Measles elimination efforts and 2008-2011 outbreak, France

Denise Antona  1 , Daniel Lévy-Bruhl, Claire Baudon, François Freymuth, Mathieu Lamy, Catherine Maine, Daniel Floret, Isabelle Parent du Chatelet
Affiliations

Measles elimination efforts and 2008-2011 outbreak, France

Denise Antona et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2013 Mar.

Abstract

Although few measles cases were reported in France during 2006 and 2007, suggesting the country might have been close to eliminating the disease, a dramatic outbreak of >20,000 cases occurred during 2008-2011. Adolescents and young adults accounted for more than half of cases; median patient age increased from 12 to 16 years during the outbreak. The highest incidence rate was observed in children <1 year of age, reaching 135 cases/100,000 infants during the last epidemic wave. Almost 5,000 patients were hospitalized, including 1,023 for severe pneumonia and 27 for encephalitis/myelitis; 10 patients died. More than 80% of the cases during this period occurred in unvaccinated persons, reflecting heterogeneous vaccination coverage, where pockets of susceptible persons still remain. Although vaccine coverage among children improved, convincing susceptible young adults to get vaccinated remains a critical issue if the target to eliminate the disease by 2015 is to be met.

Keywords: France; adolescents; children; elimination; epidemiology; immunization; measles; vaccines; viruses; young adults.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Coverage of initial measles-mumps-rubella vaccination (MMR1) listed in health certificates for children at 24 months of age, by district (département), France, 2003–2008. Data are latest available figures for the period. Sources: Institut de Veille Sanitaire, Ministry of Health statistical department.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Measles vaccine coverage for 4 birth cohort years, France. Sources: Institut de Veille Sanitaire, Ministry of Health statistical department, Ministry of Education.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Number of notified measles cases per month, determined by date of rash onset, France, January 2008–December 2011.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Evolution of geographic distribution of measles cases during 3 epidemic waves, France. A) October 2008–September 2009; B) October 2009–September 2010; C) October 2010–September 2011.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Incidence of measles cases during 3 epidemic waves, by patient age group, France, 2008–2011.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Vaccination status of measles patients, by age, France, January 2008–December 2011. Vaccination status was unknown for 80 patients.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Percentage of measles patients hospitalized, with and without reported complications, by age group, France, January 2008–December 2011.
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References

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