Epidemiology and Infection

Table of Contents - February 2011 - Volume 139, Issue 02  

Measles

Enhanced surveillance for measles in low-incidence territories of the Russian Federation: defining a rate for suspected case investigation

N. T. TIKHONOVAa1, M. A. BICHURINAa2, A. G. GERASIMOVAa1, O. V. ZVIRKUNa1, N. P. VLADIMEROVAa3, T. MAMAEVAa1, G. LIPSKAYAa4a5, S. ELSAADANYa6 and J. S. SPIKAa4a6 c1

a1 G. N. Gabrichevsky Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russian Federation

a2 St Petersburg Pasteur Institute, St Petersburg, Russian Federation

a3 Moscow City Centre Sanitary-Epidemiological Surveillance, Moscow, Russian Federation

a4 WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark

a5 A. N. Belozersky Institute of Physical-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russian Federation

a6 Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Canada

SUMMARY

The rate of case investigation for measles-like illness (MLI) is an important indicator for the quality of measles surveillance in countries targeting measles elimination. However, a benchmark rate is still being discussed. We assessed different rates of investigation in 11 territories of the Russian Federation with low reported measles incidence during the previous 4–7 years. Each territory maintained their existing surveillance activities and also undertook additional surveillance activities for MLI over a 3-year period. The annual routine rate of investigation varied from 0·06 to 1·8/100 000 population; the overall rate of investigation, including enhanced surveillance, varied from 1·4 to 7·2/100 000. Forty-nine (30·8%) of 159 measles cases detected were identified through enhanced surveillance. Based on the results of this study, the Russian Federation concluded that a rate of routine investigation of 2/100 000 provided the best balance between available resources and sensitivity for detection of measles cases.

(Accepted February 26 2010)

(Online publication April 06 2010)

Key Words:

Correspondence:

c1 Author for correspondence: Dr J. S. Spika, Public Health Agency of Canada, 130 Colonnade Road, Ottawa, K1A 0K9, Canada. (Email: john.spika@phac-aspc.gc.ca)

Metrics
Related Content