Implementing a system of enhanced surveillance for measles in Victoria

Abstract

In response to identified deficiencies in the passive surveillance system for measles in Victoria and the move towards local disease elimination and global disease eradication, a system of enhanced measles surveillance was introduced in 1997. Each case is contacted and a structured telephone questionnaire is completed, collecting information on symptomatology and encouraging serological confirmation, if not already performed. The introduction of a paediatric phlebotomy service to collect serum specimens in the case's home, has led to a dramatic increase in the proportion of cases where testing is performed, reaching nearly 90 per cent by the end of 1998. The median time from notification to specimen collection is one day. The Victorian approach to the enhanced surveillance of measles provides a framework for similar systems as Australia approaches disease elimination. Commun Dis Intell 1999;23:51-54.