A measles outbreak among young adults in Victoria, February 2001

Authors

  • Natasha Davidson Department of Human Services, Victorian Public Health Training Scheme, 120 Spencer Street, Melbourne Vic 3000
  • Ross Andrews Communicable Diseases Section, Department of Human Services, Victoria
  • Michaela Riddell Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Victoria
  • Jenny Leydon Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Victoria
  • Pauline Lynch Communicable Diseases Section, Department of Human Services, Victoria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2002.26.25

Keywords:

measles, outbreak, young adults

Abstract

In January 2001 a 19-year-old Sydney resident, who had recently returned from India, visited Melbourne for 4 days while infectious with measles. A further 50 measles cases were subsequently identified, mainly among young adults. Thirty-eight cases (75%) were in the same birth cohort (born between 1968 and 1981). This cohort was identified as being at high risk of measles infection after a previous outbreak in Victoria involving 75 cases. These individuals are now aged between 20 and 33 years. A high proportion of cases, 22 (43%) were hospitalised after multiple visits to various healthcare providers. None of the cases had documentation of receiving the  recommended number of doses of measles-containing vaccine for their age. Repeated outbreaks clearly demonstrate that young adults remain the group at highest risk of measles infection in Victoria. More targeted strategies for young adults and healthcare workers are required to better protect these groups against measles. Commun Dis Intell 2002;26:273–278.

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References

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Published

30/06/02

How to Cite

Davidson, Natasha, Ross Andrews, Michaela Riddell, Jenny Leydon, and Pauline Lynch. 2002. “A Measles Outbreak Among Young Adults in Victoria, February 2001”. Communicable Diseases Intelligence 26 (June):273-78. https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2002.26.25.

Issue

Vol. 26 (2002)

Section

Original article

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Copyright (c) 2002 Communicable Diseases Intelligence

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