Susceptibility to measles in migrant population: implication for policy makers

Abstract Background Despite a large measles outbreak is taking place in WHO European region, currently no data are available on measles immunization coverage in the asylum seeker and migrants hosted in this area. Methods Two hundred and fifty-six migrants upon their arrival in Italy on March, April...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of travel medicine 2018-01, Vol.25 (1)
Main Authors: Ceccarelli, Giancarlo, Vita, Serena, Riva, Elisabetta, Cella, Eleonora, Lopalco, Maurizio, Antonelli, Francesca, De Cesaris, Marina, Fogolari, Marta, Dicuonzo, Giordano, Ciccozzi, Massimo, Angeletti, Silvia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Africa - ethnology
Antibodies
Chemiluminescence
Disease control
Disease Susceptibility
Epidemics
Female
Humans
Immunization
Immunoassay
Immunoglobulin G
Infectious diseases
Italy - epidemiology
Male
Measles
Measles - blood
Measles - epidemiology
Measles - ethnology
Measles - prevention & control
Measles Vaccine
Middle Aged
Migrants
Outbreaks
Pakistan - ethnology
Political asylum
Prevalence
Refugees
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Serology
Travel
Vaccination
Viruses
Young Adult
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Summary:Abstract Background Despite a large measles outbreak is taking place in WHO European region, currently no data are available on measles immunization coverage in the asylum seeker and migrants hosted in this area. Methods Two hundred and fifty-six migrants upon their arrival in Italy on March, April and May 2016 were screened for measles virus IgG antibodies by chemiluminescence immunoassay (Liaison XL analyzer, Diasorin, Italy). The virus susceptibility in this cohort, the differences between the official country reported and the observed measles immunization coverage and the impact of current measles outbreak on the asylum seekers hosted in the largest Asylum Seeker centres of Italy, were evaluated. Results The prevalence of subjects with positive result for measles IgG antibodies ranged between 79.9% and 100%. In Senegal, Mali, Nigeria, Pakistan and Bangladesh, the measles IgG seroprevalence observed was greater than the vaccinal coverage reported by WHO after I dose of vaccine. Based on data regarding the II dose coverage, the ASs population presented a seroprevalence greater to that expected. Conclusion On the basis of the results obtained, extraordinary screening and vaccination campaigns in the migrant population, especially in the course of large outbreaks, could represent a resource to reach an adequate measles immunization coverage and to control this infectious disease.
ISSN:1708-8305
1195-1982
1708-8305
DOI:10.1093/jtm/tax080