High genetic diversity of measles virus, World Health Organization European Region, 2005-2006

Jacques R. Kremer*, Kevin E. Brown, Li Jin, Sabine Santibanez, Sergey V. Shulga, Yair Aboudy, Irina V. Demchyshyna, Sultana Djemileva, Juan E. Echevarria, David F. Featherstone, Mirsada Hukic, Kari Johansen, Bogumila Litwinska, Elena Lopareva, Emilia Lupulescu, Andreas Mentis, Zefira Mihneva, Maria M. Mosquera, Mark Muscat, M. A. NaumovaJasminka Nedeljkovic, Ljubov S. Nekrasova, Fabio Magurano, Claudia Fortuna, Helena Rebelo De Andrade, Jean Luc Richard, Alma Robo, Paul A. Rota, Elena O. Samoilovich, Inna Sarv, Galina V. Semeiko, Nazim Shugayev, Elmira S. Utegenova, Rob Van Binnendijk, Lasse Vinner, Diane Waku-Kouomou, T. Fabian Wild, David W.G. Brown, Annette Mankertz, Claude P. Muller, Mick N. Mulders

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

During 2005-2006, nine measles virus (MV) genotypes were identified throughout the World Health Organization European Region. All major epidemics were associated with genotypes D4, D6, and B3. Other genotypes (B2, D5, D8, D9, G2, and H1) were only found in limited numbers of cases after importation from other continents. The genetic diversity of endemic D6 strains was low; genotypes C2 and D7, circulating in Europe until recent years, were no longer identified. The transmission chains of several indigenous MV strains may thus have been interrupted by enhanced vaccination. However, multiple importations from Africa and Asia and virus introduction into highly mobile and unvaccinated communities caused a massive spread of D4 and B3 strains throughout much of the region. Thus, despite the reduction of endemic MV circulation, importation of MV from other continents caused prolonged circulation and large outbreaks after their introduction into unvaccinated and highly mobile communities.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)107-114
Number of pages8
JournalEmerging Infectious Diseases
Volume14
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2008

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