An outbreak of adult measles by nosocomial transmission in a high vaccination coverage community

• With the implementation of hastened measles elimination strategies, the susceptible populations now have moved to the infants under 8 months who are too young to receive the MCV vaccination and the adults over 20 year old.
• Hospital exposure 1∼2 weeks before infected with measles was the main cause of the community-based measles outbreak, there is a link between them.
• Controlling nosocomial infections is a vital link in propagation of measles prevention and control.

SummaryObjectivesThe aims of this study were to determine the mechanism of an outbreak of measles in adults and to provide scientific measures for putting forward a measles elimination program.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional investigation during the measles outbreak to identify a possible communication link.ResultsFrom November 1, 2011 to January 26, 2012, the town reported 11 cases of measles in total. The case study identified an obvious propagation chain, which showed ordered and intimate exposure between cases.ConclusionsHospital exposure 1–2 weeks before infection with measles was the main cause of the measles outbreak. We must be fully aware of the possibility of nosocomial infection in an outbreak of measles; controlling nosocomial infections is a vital step in the prevention and control of the propagation of measles.

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