Study of a measles outbreak in Granada with preventive measures applied by the courts, Spain, 2010 to 2011

E Navarro; M M Mochón; M D Galicia; I Marín; J Laguna

doi:10.2807/1560-7917.ES2013.18.43.20612

Surveillance and outbreak reports Open Access

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Study of a measles outbreak in Granada with preventive measures applied by the courts, Spain, 2010 to 2011

E Navarro¹, M M Mochón², M D Galicia², I Marín², J Laguna²
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Affiliations: ¹ UGC Medicina Preventiva, Vigilancia y Promoción de la Salud, Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, Granada, Spain ² Epidemiology Section, Provincial Health Office, Ministry of Health, Granada , Spain

Correspondence:
E Navarro
eulalia.navarro.sspa juntadeandalucia.es
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Citation style for this article: Navarro E, Mochón M M, Galicia M D, Marín I, Laguna J. Study of a measles outbreak in Granada with preventive measures applied by the courts, Spain, 2010 to 2011. Euro Surveill. 2013;18(43):pii=20612. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES2013.18.43.20612 Received: 14 Mar 2013; Accepted:

Abstract

Measles had practically been eliminated in Granada since the systematic vaccination of children with two doses introduced in 1984. However, in 2009 the disease returned in the form of small outbreaks. This study describes the measles outbreak that occurred in Granada from October 2010 to August 2011 and the measures imposed to control it. Information was sourced from the records of the Andalusian epidemiological surveillance system. A total of 308 cases were recorded, representing an incidence rate of 33.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The first wave of the epidemic took place in Granada city, with the majority of cases occurring among families who lived in the Albaycín neighbourhood and were opposed to vaccination for ideological and/or religious reasons. The initial cases were in unvaccinated children aged 1 to13 years. The outbreak later spread throughout the province. To control the outbreak, the vaccination schedule for the exposed children was brought up to date. The Regional Ministry of Health decided to take legal action in order to ensure vaccination of those in the initial nucleus of the outbreak. .