A Measles Outbreak in a Local Children's Hospital in Korea, 2019

J Korean Med Sci. 2023 Jan 16;38(3):e28. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e28.

Abstract

A measles outbreak with 20 confirmed cases occurred at a local children's hospital in Daejeon from March 28 to April 21, 2019. The index patient was a 7-month-old girl with a recent history of travel to Vietnam. Contact tracing, active surveillance, and post-exposure prophylaxis were conducted by health authorities. Among the 20 patients, 11 (55%) were infants (0-11 months of age), three (15%) were aged 1-3 years, one (5%) was aged 4 years, and five (25%) were adults. Fifteen (75%) patients did not have a history of measles vaccination, and five (25%) had received only one vaccine dose. This study described the importance of prompt application of infection control measures in susceptible environments, including hospitals. Age-appropriate vaccination and providing information on infectious diseases to international travelers and multicultural families in Korea is vital.

Keywords: Disease Outbreaks; Hospitals, Pediatric; Measles; Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; Republic of Korea.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Child
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Female
  • Hospitals
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Measles* / epidemiology
  • Measles* / prevention & control
  • Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine
  • Mumps* / epidemiology
  • Republic of Korea / epidemiology
  • Rubella* / prevention & control
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine