Mapping a nosocomial outbreak of measles, coinciding with a period of sustained transmission in South London in 2018

J P Vink; L B Snell; K Bernard; H Mitchell; R T Heathcock; R Cordery; W Newsholme

doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2020.06.004

Mapping a nosocomial outbreak of measles, coinciding with a period of sustained transmission in South London in 2018

J Hosp Infect. 2020 Aug;105(4):747-751. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2020.06.004. Epub 2020 Jun 13.

Authors

J P Vink¹, L B Snell², K Bernard³, H Mitchell⁴, R T Heathcock³, R Cordery³, W Newsholme⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Infection, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Centre for Clinical Infection and Diagnostics Research, King's College London, London, UK. Electronic address: Jasper.vink@gstt.nhs.uk.
² Department of Infection, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Centre for Clinical Infection and Diagnostics Research, King's College London, London, UK.
³ South London Health Protection Team, Public Health England, London, UK.
⁴ Department of Infection, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

PMID: 32544506
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2020.06.004

Abstract

A measles outbreak in London is described, involving 34 cases across two hospitals and a local community across two countries. After a single introduction to hospital, spread propagated via unvaccinated retail shop workers to healthcare staff, highlighting the importance of expanding occupational health policies to non-clinical hospital staff. Further spread into an under-vaccinated Traveller community is a reminder that measles can spread in the absence of herd immunity. Subsequently endemic measles transmission has been re-established in the UK.

Keywords: Epidemiology; London; Measles; Outbreak.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Antibodies, Viral / blood
Child, Preschool
Cross Infection / epidemiology*
Cross Infection / transmission*
Disease Outbreaks*
Health Personnel
Humans
Infant, Newborn
London / epidemiology
Measles / epidemiology*
Measles / transmission*
Measles Vaccine / administration & dosage
Middle Aged
Personnel, Hospital
Retrospective Studies
Tertiary Care Centers
Young Adult

Substances

Antibodies, Viral
Measles Vaccine