Further efforts needed to achieve measles elimination in Germany: results of an outbreak investigation.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine morbidity and costs related to a large measles outbreak in Germany and to identify ways to improve the country's national measles elimination strategy.

Methods

We investigated a large outbreak of measles in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) that occurred in 2006 after 2 years of low measles incidence (< 1 case per 100,000). WHO's clinical case definition was used, and surveillance data from 2006 and 2001 were compared. All cases notified in Duisburg, the most severely affected city, were contacted and interviewed or sent a questionnaire. Health-care provider costs were calculated using information on complications, hospitalization and physician consultations.

Findings

In NRW, 1749 cases were notified over a 48-week period. Compar

SUBMITTER: Wichmann O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2636188 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature