Progress Toward Measles Elimination — European Region, 2009–2018

Weekly / May 3, 2019 / 68(17);396–401

Laura A. Zimmerman, MPH1; Mark Muscat, MD, PhD2; Simarjit Singh, MSc2; Myriam Ben Mamou, MD2; Dragan Jankovic, MD2; Siddhartha Datta, MD2; James P. Alexander, MD1; James L. Goodson, MPH1; Patrick O’Connor, MD2 (View author affiliations)

Summary

What is already known about this topic?

Many countries in the World Health Organization European Region (EUR) have made substantial progress toward measles elimination.

What is added by this report?

By end of 2017, 37 (70%) EUR countries had sustained interruption of measles transmission for ≥36 months and were verified to have eliminated endemic measles. During 2017–2018, however, a resurgence of measles occurred in EUR, with large-scale outbreaks in Ukraine, Serbia, and some countries that had achieved elimination.

What are the implications for public health practice?

To achieve regional measles elimination, measures are needed to strengthen immunization programs to achieve high population immunity, maintain high-quality surveillance for rapid case detection, and ensure outbreak preparedness and prompt response to contain outbreaks.