Coletanêa de Respostas Rápidas Turma 1 / Collection of Rapid Review Class 1

Coletânea dedicada aos estudos das respostas rápidas do Programa Educacional em Vigilância em Saúde no enfrentamento da COVID-19 e outras Doenças Virais (VigiEpidemia). Esse tema é de extrema relevância e atualidade em nosso contexto da saúde global e na resposta as emergências em saúde pública (ESP) de forma geral. As ESP, que englobam surtos e epidemias, desastres e desassistência à população, representam desafios complexos que exigem respostas ágeis e eficazes por parte das autoridades sanitárias, profissionais da saúde e comunidades como um todo. Até o momento, a pandemia de COVID-19 foi a maior ESP do Século XXI. Ela serviu como um lembrete doloroso da vulnerabilidade da humanidade diante da ameaça de doenças virais. Esta ESP, que teve resposta catastrófica em diversos momentos, evidenciou a importância do investimento em preparação, vigilância e resposta, destacando a necessidade de sistemas de vigilância robustos, colaboração internacional, Inteligência epidemiológica e comunicação transparente para mitigar o impacto devastador das doenças infecciosas na sociedade. As lições aprendidas com a pandemia de COVID-19 são vastas e multifacetadas. A importância da pesquisa, da educação em saúde e do desenvolvimento de vacinas foi evidenciada como uma prioridade crucial na proteção da saúde pública mundial. O investimento em pesquisas e em cursos para formação de profissionais que possam estar atentos as mudanças nos padrões e comportamentos das doenças infecciosas, além de atuar na resposta rápida quando necessário, é fundamental para estarmos preparados para as futuras pandemias. A vacinação, por exemplo, sempre foi uma das ferramentas mais poderosas para evitar surtos e epidemias e, durante a pandemia de COVID-19, ajudou a controlar os óbitos pela doença e possibilitou que voltássemos a ter uma vida normal. Além da vacina contra COVID-19, as vacinas de influenza e dengue também são exemplos notáveis de avanços científicos que desempenham um papel fundamental na prevenção de futuras ESP. Ao explorar os diversos aspectos da resposta, monitoramento e controle de surtos, epidemias e pandemias, esta coletânea visa fornecer uma compreensão abrangente dos desafios enfrentados, das melhores práticas e das estratégias eficazes para mitigar os impactos adversos desses eventos. Espera-se que este trabalho não apenas informe e eduque, mas também inspire ações concretas para fortalecer a recuperação e resiliência dos sistemas de saúde e proteger o bem-estar das comunidades mais vulneráveis do nosso pais.

A collection dedicated to the study of rapid responses by the Educational Program in Health Surveillance in addressing COVID-19 and other Viral Diseases (VigiEpidemia). This theme is of utmost relevance and timeliness in our context of global health and in responding to public health emergencies (PHE) in general. PHEs, which encompass outbreaks and epidemics, disasters, and neglect of the population, represent complex challenges that require swift and effective responses from health authorities, healthcare professionals, and communities as a whole. To date, the COVID-19 pandemic has been the largest PHE of the 21st century. It served as a painful reminder of humanity's vulnerability in the face of viral disease threats. This PHE, which had catastrophic responses at various times, highlighted the importance of investing in preparedness, surveillance, and response, underscoring the need for robust surveillance systems, international collaboration, epidemiological intelligence, and transparent communication to mitigate the devastating impact of infectious diseases on society. The lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic are vast and multifaceted. The importance of research, health education, and vaccine development was highlighted as a crucial priority in protecting global public health. Investing in research and training courses to prepare professionals who can be attentive to changes in the patterns and behaviors of infectious diseases and act quickly when needed is essential to be prepared for future pandemics. Vaccination, for example, has always been one of the most powerful tools to prevent outbreaks and epidemics, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, it helped control disease-related deaths and allowed us to return to a normal life. In addition to the COVID-19 vaccine, influenza and dengue vaccines are also notable examples of scientific advancements that play a key role in preventing future PHEs. By exploring the various aspects of response, monitoring, and control of outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics, this collection aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced, best practices, and effective strategies to mitigate the adverse impacts of these events. It is hoped that this work will not only inform and educate but also inspire concrete actions to strengthen the recovery and resilience of health systems and protect the well-being of the most vulnerable communities in our country.

Coletanêa de Respostas Rápidas Turma 2 / Collection of Rapid Review Class 1

As Políticas Informadas por Evidências (PIE) tem ocupado uma posição de destaque nas últimas décadas. Nota-se, portanto, um aumento do estimulo e da valorização da síntese do conhecimento cientifico para apoiar o desenvolvimento de políticas públicas de saúde baseadas em evidências. No Brasil, o Ministério da Saúde institucionalizou em 2009 a Rede para Politicas Informadas por Evidencias (Evidence-Informed Policy Network ­ EVIPNet Brasil). Essa Rede foi uma criação da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) para promover o uso sistemático e transparente de evidências cientificas no desenvolvimento e na implementação de políticas de saúde, proporcionando o intercâmbio de conhecimento entre gestores, pesquisadores e representantes da sociedade civil, e facilitando a formulação, a implementação de políticas e a gestão dos serviços e sistemas de saúde. Coordenada pelo Departamento de Ciência e Tecnologia da Secretaria de Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação e do Complexo Econômico-Industrial da Saúde do Ministério da Saúde (DECIT/SCTICS/MS), a EVIPNet Brasil, integrada por Núcleos de Evidências em Saúde (NEv), oferece periodicamente cursos diversos sobre PIE, além de materiais, como diretrizes metodológicas, para auxiliar na síntese de evidências para tomada de decisão em saúde. Com o evento da pandemia da COVID-19, a busca por evidências cientificas tornou-se mais intensa. A cobrança por resposta a curto prazo marcou esse período recente, desafiando o mundo todo a aprimorar mecanismos de elaboração, tradução e disseminação de conhecimento científico. Nesse contexto, surge o VigiEpidemia, um Programa Educacional em Vigilância e Cuidado em Saúde no Enfrentamento da COVID-19 e de outras doenças virais que oferece qualificação aos trabalhadores do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Por meio desse programa, foram elaborados produtos, baseados no Portfolio de Produtos do Serviço de Produção de Evidências para Apoio a Tomada de Decisão, do DECIT, que tiveram como objetivo principal estimular o uso de evidências cientificas no cotidiano dos serviços de saúde. Este e-book oferece a leitora e ao leitor 26 pesquisas criteriosamente selecionadas com conteúdo interessante produzidos por especializandos no âmbito do VigiEpidemia, dividido em duas partes: a primeira sobre COVID-19 e outras doenças virais e a segunda sobre Dengue e outras arboviroses.

Evidence-Informed Policies (EIP) have gained prominence over the past few decades. Consequently, there has been an increase in the stimulation and appreciation of the synthesis of scientific knowledge to support the development of evidence-based public health policies. In Brazil, the Ministry of Health institutionalized the Evidence-Informed Policy Network (EVIPNet Brazil) in 2009. This network was an initiative by the World Health Organization (WHO) to promote the systematic and transparent use of scientific evidence in the development and implementation of health policies, facilitating knowledge exchange among managers, researchers, and representatives of civil society, and aiding in policy formulation, implementation, and the management of health services and systems. Coordinated by the Department of Science and Technology of the Secretariat of Science, Technology, Innovation, and the Economic-Industrial Health Complex of the Ministry of Health (DECIT/SCTICS/MS), EVIPNet Brazil, consisting of Health Evidence Centers (NEv), periodically offers various courses on EIP, along with resources such as methodological guidelines to assist in the synthesis of evidence for health decision-making. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the search for scientific evidence became more intense. The demand for short-term responses marked this recent period, challenging the world to enhance mechanisms for the elaboration, translation, and dissemination of scientific knowledge. In this context, the VigiEpidemia program emerged, an Educational Program in Health Surveillance and Care in addressing COVID-19 and other viral diseases, offering qualifications to workers of the Unified Health System (SUS). Through this program, products were developed based on the DECIT's Evidence Production Service Portfolio to Support Decision Making, primarily aimed at stimulating the use of scientific evidence in the daily operations of health services. This e-book provides the reader with 26 meticulously selected research studies with interesting content produced by specialists within the scope of VigiEpidemia, divided into two parts: the first on COVID-19 and other viral diseases, and the second on Dengue and other arboviruses.

Measles outbreak investigation in Tocha district, southwestern Ethiopia: an unmatched case-control study.

Background: Measles continues to be a public health challenge in Ethiopia. Rumors of suspected measles were notified on April 8, 2023 from Tocha district. We conducted an assessment to describe measles outbreak and determine risk factors for measles infection in the Tocha district of the Dawuro zone, Southwest Ethiopia. Methods: We conducted a 1:2 unmatched case-control studies from April to May 2023. We took all 147 cases registered on line list for descriptive analyses. We used a total of 74 randomly selected cases and 147 controls for case-control part. Any person in Tocha district with laboratory-confirmed measles IgM antibody; or any suspected person epidemiologically linked to confirmed measles cases from March 23 to April 26 2023, were included in the case. Neighborhood who did not fulfill this standard case definition were included in controls. Data were collected using standardized questionnaires deployed on Kobo Collect. Descriptive analyses were conducted using Epi info version 7.2.5.0. The analyses were performed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 26. Binary logistic regression analyses were utilized to select candidate variables. We conducted multiple logistic regression analysis to identify determinants of measles infection at a p value ≤0.05 with 95% confidence interval. Results: The overall attack rate of 22.64/10,000 for general population and 104.59/10,000 among under-five children were attributed to the outbreak with a case fatality rate of 2.72%. Vaccine coverage in the last year and this year were 73.52 and 53.88%, respectively, while vaccine effectiveness in the district was 79%. Poor house ventilation (AOR = 3.540, 95% CI: 1.663-7.535) and having contact history with the case (AOR = 2.528, 95% CI: 1.180-4.557) were positively related to measles infection while being previously vaccinated for measles (AOR = 0.209, 95% CI: 0.180-4.577) reduce risk of measles infections. Conclusion: The highest attack rate was observed among children under 5 years of age, with a case fatality rate of 2.72%. Vaccination coverage was less than what expected to develop herd immunity. Strategies to increase vaccination coverage and strengthening surveillance systems for rumor identification and early responses to prevent person to person transmission are recommended.

Measles outbreak investigation in Berhet District, North Shewa, Ethiopia.

Introduction: Measles, though usually self-limiting, can have severe consequences influenced by factors such as vaccination and nutrition, notably vitamin A deficiency and malnutrition. Despite progress, contextual changes and implementation issues have hampered efforts, resulting in increased outbreaks and cases of measles. This study seeks to pinpoint outbreak features, risk factors, and strategies for preventing and controlling measles. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study and a 1:2 unmatched case-control study design were employed. All 101 suspected measles cases listed on the line-list were included in the descriptive research, with 60 measles patients and 120 controls included in the case-control investigation. Line-list data were cleaned and analyzed using a pivot table in Microsoft Excel 2016. Subsequently, the data were cleaned, entered into Epi Info 7.2, and exported to SPSS 26 for analysis. Results: Twenty cases occurred per 10,000 individuals. Men accounted for 67.3% of cases, with ages ranging from 5 months to 45 years and mean and standard deviations of 9.6 and 7.6, respectively. Age group of 5-14 years comprised 57.4% of cases, followed by 1-4 years with 24.8%. Being unvaccinated against measles showed an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 12.06 (95% CI: 3.12-46.52). Travel history to regions with active cases had an AOR of 5.73 (95% CI: 1.78-18.38). Contact with a measles patient showed an AOR of 10.3 (95% CI: 3.48-30.5). Understanding the measles transmission mechanism had an AOR of 0.164 (95% CI: 0.049-0.55), and awareness of the disease's preventability had an AOR of 0.233 (95% CI: 0.67-0.811). All factors were independently associated with the illness. Conclusion: This outbreak affected a broader age range with a high attack rate, mainly in the age group of 5-14-years. Over 35% of cases lacked measles vaccination, indicating low administrative vaccine coverage. Factors contributing to the outbreak include lack of measles vaccination, travel to areas with active disease, contact with cases, and insufficient knowledge of measles transmission and prevention strategies among mothers and caregivers.

Second dose of measles-containing vaccine coverage and associated factors among children aged 24-36 months in Gondar city, Central Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023.

Background: Measles caused 207,000 deaths worldwide in 2019. Ethiopia ranks among the top 10 countries in the world with the highest number of measles cases. However, the coverage of the second dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV2) remains low. To increase coverage, the government of Ethiopia launched a nationwide measles vaccination campaign. Despite this intervention, the coverage is still below target, and there is scarce information in the study area. Therefore, this study aimed to assess MCV2 coverage and associated factors among children aged 24-36 months in Gondar city, Central Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 621 children aged 24-36 months using a systematic random sampling technique from 25 April to 25 May. A pre-tested, interviewer-administered, and structured questionnaire was used and collected using Kobo Toolbox and then transferred to Stata version 17 for further analysis. The binary logistic regression model was used to identify factors, and the presence of an association was declared using a p-value of <0.05. Similarly, an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was used to interpret the direction and strength of an association. Results: A total of 621 children, with a response rate of 98.1%, participated in the study. The coverage of the second dose of MCV was 75.68% (95% CI: 72.1-78.9). The following factors were significantly associated with measles-containing vaccine second dose (MCV2) coverage: father as the household head (AOR: 3.06, 95% CI: 1.43-6.44), first birth order (AOR: 4.45, 95% CI: 1.21-16.3), four and above antenatal care (ANC) follow-ups (AOR: 5.18, 95% CI:1.62-16.5), postnatal care (PNC) service utilization (AOR: 2.57, 95% CI:1.27-5.15), at least two doses of vitamin A uptake (AOR: 6.39, 95% CI: 2.67-15.2), mothers having high awareness (AOR: 1.97, 95% CI:1.15-3.4), and good perception (AOR: 3.6, 95% CI: 2-6.47) about measles vaccination. Conclusion and recommendations: The coverage of MCV2 in the study area is lower than the national and global target of above 95%. Head of household, birth order, ANC follow-up, PNC service utilization, vitamin A uptake, awareness, and perception of mothers about measles vaccination were significant factors for MCV2 coverage. Creating awareness, increasing the perception of mothers about measles vaccination, and strengthening the ANC and PNC services will increase the coverage.

[Effects of the vaccination campaign on hospitalization and mortality linked to measles in Brazil in the last decade]. / Efeitos da campanha de vacinação nas internações e mortalidade relacionados ao sarampo no Brasil na última década.

Measles is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population and it can be prevented with 100% effectiveness by vaccination. However, the disease remains active in throughout Brazil. The scope of this article is to evaluate the population's adherence to vaccination and the potential connection with hospitalizations and mortality in relation to measles in Brazil. This is an ecological study based on secondary data on mortality and hospitalizations due to measles and vaccination coverage against the disease in Brazil from 2013 to 2022. The peak of adherence to the measles vaccination schedule occurred in the 3 years that preceded the eradication of the disease in the country, which occurred in 2016. In this interval, there are the lowest hospitalization rates, with zero mortality from 2014 to 2017. On the other hand, there has been a marked drop in vaccination rates since 2019, when the disease resurfaced in Brazil. Concomitantly, hospitalization and mortality rates reach the highest recorded values. Population adherence to the complete measles vaccination schedule, which is essential to control the disease and related deaths, is insufficient, which is reflected in hospitalization and mortality rates.

O sarampo é uma das principais causas de morbidade e mortalidade na população pediátrica e pode ser prevenido com 100% de eficácia pela vacinação. No entanto, a doença permanece ativa no território brasileiro. O objetivo do artigo é avaliar a adesão da população à vacinação e a possível relação com hospitalização e mortalidade em relação ao sarampo no Brasil. Trata-se de um estudo ecológico realizado a partir de dados secundários de mortalidade e internações acerca do sarampo e da cobertura vacinal contra a doença no Brasil nos anos de 2013 a 2022. O ápice de adesão ao calendário vacinal contra o sarampo se deu nos três anos que precederam a erradicação da doença no país, ocorrida em 2016. Nesse intervalo, tem-se as menores taxas de internação, com a mortalidade zerada de 2014 a 2017. Em contrapartida, verifica-se, desde então, queda na taxas de vacinação, acentuadas a partir de 2019, quando a doença reaparece no Brasil. Concomitantemente, as taxas de internação e mortalidade atingem os valores mais altos registrados. A adesão populacional ao calendário vacinal completo contra o sarampo, essencial ao controle da doença e dos óbitos relacionados, está insuficiente, o que se reflete nas taxas de internações e mortalidade.

A measles and rubella vaccine microneedle patch in The Gambia: a phase 1/2, double-blind, double-dummy, randomised, active-controlled, age de-escalation trial.

BACKGROUND: Microneedle patches (MNPs) have been ranked as the highest global priority innovation for overcoming immunisation barriers in low-income and middle-income countries. This trial aimed to provide the first data on the tolerability, safety, and immunogenicity of a measles and rubella vaccine (MRV)-MNP in children. METHODS: This single-centre, phase 1/2, double-blind, double-dummy, randomised, active-controlled, age de-escalation trial was conducted in The Gambia. To be eligible, all participants had to be healthy according to prespecified criteria, aged 18-40 years for the adult cohort, 15-18 months for toddlers, or 9-10 months for infants, and to be available for visits throughout the follow-up period. The three age cohorts were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio (adults) or 1:1 ratio (toddlers and infants) to receive either an MRV-MNP (Micron Biomedical, Atlanta, GA, USA) and a placebo (0·9% sodium chloride) subcutaneous injection, or a placebo-MNP and an MRV subcutaneous injection (MRV-SC; Serum Institute of India, Pune, India). Unmasked staff ransomly assigned the participants using an online application, and they prepared visually identical preparations of the MRV-MNP or placebo-MNP and MRV-SC or placebo-SC, but were not involved in collecting endpoint data. Staff administering the study interventions, participants, parents, and study staff assessing trial endpoints were masked to treatment allocation. The safety population consists of all vaccinated participants, and analysis was conducted according to route of MRV administration, irrespective of subsequent protocol deviations. The immunogenicity population consisted of all vaccinated participants who had a baseline and day 42 visit result available, and who had no protocol deviations considered to substantially affect the immunogenicity endpoints. Solicited local and systemic adverse events were collected for 14 days following vaccination. Unsolicited adverse events were collected to day 180. Age de-escalation between cohorts was based on the review of the safety data to day 14 by an independent data monitoring committee. Serum neutralising antibodies to measles and rubella were measured at baseline, day 42, and day 180. Analysis was descriptive and included safety events, seroprotection and seroconversion rates, and geometric mean antibody concentrations. The trial was registered with the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry PACTR202008836432905, and is complete. FINDINGS: Recruitment took place between May 18, 2021, and May 27, 2022. 45 adults, 120 toddlers, and 120 infants were randomly allocated and vaccinated. There were no safety concerns in the first 14 days following vaccination in either adults or toddlers, and age de-escalation proceeded accordingly. In infants, 93% (52/56; 95% CI 83·0-97·2) seroconverted to measles and 100% (58/58; 93·8-100) seroconverted to rubella following MRV-MNP administration, while 90% (52/58; 79·2-95·2) and 100% (59/59; 93·9-100) seroconverted to measles and rubella respectively, following MRV-SC. Induration at the MRV-MNP application site was the most frequent local reaction occurring in 46 (77%) of 60 toddlers and 39 (65%) of 60 infants. Related unsolicited adverse events, most commonly discolouration at the application site, were reported in 35 (58%) of 60 toddlers and 57 (95%) of 60 infants that had received the MRV-MNP. All local reactions were mild. There were no related severe or serious adverse events. INTERPRETATION: The safety and immunogenicity data support the accelerated development of the MRV-MNP. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Measles second dose vaccine uptake and its associated factors among children aged 24-35 months in Northwest Ethiopia, 2022.

Measles is a major public health problem in under-five children, leading to lifelong complications. Therefore, the study aimed to assess the magnitude of measles second-dose vaccine uptake and its determinants among children aged 24-35 months in Northwest Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 418 children aged 24-35 months in Northwest Ethiopia between January 2022 and February 2022. A simple random sampling technique was used to access study subjects. A binary logistic regression model was employed. An adjusted odd ratio with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and a p-value < 0.05 was used to declare significant predictors of measles second dose vaccine uptake. The magnitude of the measles second dose vaccine uptake among children aged 24-35 months was 41.39%. Postnatal care visits (AOR: 4.78, CI 1.49, 15.34), child vaccination status of other scheduled vaccines (AOR: 3.88, CI 2.23, 6.73), awareness of the measles second dose vaccine and its schedule (AOR: 8.924, CI 5.27, 15.09), and distance from the vaccination center (AOR: 0.21, CI 0.06, 0.77) were significantly associated with measles second dose vaccine uptake. The uptake of measles second dose vaccine in the study area was low. Therefore, health workers and other partners should initiate awareness creation programs for mothers/caretaker to improve the uptake of measles second dose vaccine.

Measles in Poland in 2021. / Odra w Polsce w 2021 roku.

INTRODUCTION: Measles is one of the most contagious childhood diseases, and the behavior also occurs in adults. This is a multi-year vaccination covered by an elimination program coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO). Elimination of measles in the country is conditional on a 95% incidence of infection with two victims, monitoring the epidemiological situation, registering all suspected cases of measles, and monitoring by the WHO Reference Laboratory. In our country, the Department of Virology of the NIZP PZH-PIB in Warsaw serves as the head of the Department of Virology. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate epidemiological indicators of measles in Poland in 2021 compared to previous years, taking into account the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The assessment of the epidemiological situation was based on a review of data from the bulletin, "Infectious Diseases and Poisons in Poland in 2021" (5), and the assessment of the immunization status of the population was based on data from the bulletin, "Immunization in Poland in 2021" (6). Classification of cases was made based on the definition used in the 2021 surveillance (7). Data from the epidemiological surveillance system "EpiBase" were also used. RESULTS: In 2021, 13 measles cases were registered in Poland (incidence 0.03 per 100,000), 44.8% less than in 2020 and 80% less than the median in 2014-2018. In 2021, the highest incidence was recorded at 0.32 per 100,000 children aged 0-4 years. 6 patients (46.2%) were hospitalized; no deaths due to measles were reported. 32 suspected measles cases were recorded, with over a hundred cases expected. Vaccination status of children aged 3 with the first dose was 90.8%, and the second dose was given to children at the age of 9. - 84.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Epidemiological indicators of measles in 2021 in Poland compared to 2020 have decreased. A similar trend observed throughout Europe. This is related to the extinguishment of outbreaks that occurred before the pandemic, mainly in 2019.

Real-Time Use of a Dynamic Model To Measure the Impact of Public Health Interventions on Measles Outbreak Size and Duration - Chicago, Illinois, 2024.

Measles is a highly infectious, vaccine-preventable disease that can cause severe illness, hospitalization, and death. A measles outbreak associated with a migrant shelter in Chicago occurred during February-April 2024, in which a total of 57 confirmed cases were identified, including 52 among shelter residents, three among staff members, and two among community members with a known link to the shelter. CDC simulated a measles outbreak among shelter residents using a dynamic disease model, updated in real time as additional cases were identified, to produce outbreak forecasts and assess the impact of public health interventions. As of April 8, the model forecasted a median final outbreak size of 58 cases (IQR = 56-60 cases); model fit and prediction range improved as more case data became available. Counterfactual analysis of different intervention scenarios demonstrated the importance of early deployment of public health interventions in Chicago, with a 69% chance of an outbreak of 100 or more cases had there been no mass vaccination or active case-finding compared with only a 1% chance when those interventions were deployed. This analysis highlights the value of using real-time, dynamic models to aid public health response, set expectations about outbreak size and duration, and quantify the impact of interventions. The model shows that prompt mass vaccination and active case-finding likely substantially reduced the chance of a large (100 or more cases) outbreak in Chicago.

Measles Outbreak Associated with a Migrant Shelter - Chicago, Illinois, February-May 2024.

Measles, a highly contagious respiratory virus with the potential to cause severe complications, hospitalization, and death, was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000; however, with ongoing global transmission, infections in the United States still occur. On March 7, 2024, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) confirmed a case of measles in a male aged 1 year residing in a temporary shelter for migrants in Chicago. Given the congregate nature of the setting, high transmissibility of measles, and low measles vaccination coverage among shelter residents, measles virus had the potential to spread rapidly among approximately 2,100 presumed exposed shelter residents. CDPH immediately instituted outbreak investigation and response activities in collaboration with state and local health departments, health care facilities, city agencies, and shelters. On March 8, CDPH implemented active case-finding and coordinated a mass vaccination campaign at the affected shelter (shelter A), including vaccinating 882 residents and verifying previous vaccination for 784 residents over 3 days. These activities resulted in 93% measles vaccination coverage (defined as receipt of ≥1 recorded measles vaccine dose) by March 11. By May 13, a total of 57 confirmed measles cases associated with residing in or having contact with persons from shelter A had been reported. Most cases (41; 72%) were among persons who did not have documentation of measles vaccination and were considered unvaccinated. In addition, 16 cases of measles occurred among persons who had received ≥1 measles vaccine dose ≥21 days before first known exposure. This outbreak underscores the need to ensure high vaccination coverage among communities residing in congregate settings.

Measles Vaccine Coverage and Disease Outbreaks: A Systematic Review of the Early Impact of COVID-19 in Low and Lower-Middle Income Countries.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate changes to measles-containing vaccine (MCV) provision and subsequent measles disease cases in low- and lower-middle income countries (LICs, LMICs) in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A systematic search was conducted of MEDLINE, OVID EMBASE and PubMed records. Primary quantitative and qualitative research studies published from January 2020 were included if they reported on COVID-19 impact on MCV provision and/or measles outbreak rates within LICs and LMICs. Results: 45 studies were included. The change in MCV1 vaccination coverage in national and international regions ranged -13% to +44.4% from pre-COVID time periods. In local regions, the median MCV1 and overall EPI rate changed by -23.3% and -28.5% respectively. Median MCV2 rate was disproportionally impacted in local areas during COVID-interruption time-periods (-48.2%) with ongoing disruption in early-recovery time-periods (-17.7%). 8.9% of studies reported on vaccination status of confirmed measles cases; from these, 71%-91% had received no MCV dose. Conclusion: MCV vaccination coverage experienced ongoing disruption during the recovery periods after initial COVID-19 disruption. Vaccination in local area datasets notably experienced longer-term disruption compared to nationally reported figures.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis presenting as severe depression in an adult.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a fatal disorder that occurs as a rare complication of childhood measles. Symptoms typically manifest between the ages of 5 and 15. While the incidence of SSPE is declining globally, it is still prevalent in regions where measles remains common and vaccination rates are low due to poverty and lack of health education. Diagnosing SSPE can be challenging, particularly when patients exhibit unusual symptoms. A thorough clinical evaluation, including vaccination history, physical examination, electroencephalogram (EEG) and Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis, can help in making a diagnosis. We present the case of a young woman in her early 20s who initially experienced depressive symptoms, followed by myoclonus, dementia and visual impairment. The patient was ultimately diagnosed with SSPE based on characteristic EEG findings, neuroimaging results, CSF analysis and elevated serum measles antibody levels.

Adapting response to a measles outbreak in a context of high vaccination and breakthrough cases: an example from Vaud, Switzerland, January to March 2024.

A measles outbreak with 51 cases occurred in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland, between January and March 2024. The outbreak was triggered by an imported case, and 37 (72.5%) subsequent cases were previously vaccinated individuals. Epidemiological investigations showed that vaccinated measles cases were symptomatic and infectious. In a highly vaccinated population, it is important to raise awareness among healthcare professionals to suspect and test for measles virus when an outbreak is declared, irrespective of the vaccination status of the patients.

How did the introduction of the measles-containing vaccine second dose (MCV2) affect measles vaccine uptake? - evidence from Nigeria.

Nigeria has the highest burden of measles worldwide, as measles vaccine uptake remains low. Recently, the second dose of the measles-containing vaccine (MCV2) was introduced as part of the routine immunization (RI) program, and this study examined how it changed the uptake of the measles vaccine and the factors associated with vaccination behavior. The Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2021 was used to compare measles vaccination uptake as well as factors associated with vaccination uptake between children before MCV2 introduction (cohort 1) and after the introduction (cohort 2). The overall rate of measles vaccine uptake was higher among cohort 1 (64%-95%) than among cohort 2 (56%-92%) in all zones because of younger age among cohort 2. The dropout from the first to second measles vaccines was similar between the cohorts (around 24%). Higher maternal education levels and higher household wealth levels were both correlated with the vaccine uptake or both cohorts but a positive correlation between the dropout and mother's education level was observed only among cohort 2, especially in the North West and South West zones. The positive correlation between the dropout and mother's education level among cohort 2 indicates that the introduction of MCV2 as part of RI might have helped to narrow the disparity in measles vaccine uptake in North West and South West zones. Further study is required to investigate strategies employed to reduce the disparity in these zones to apply nationwide.