Measles outbreak in Indiana linked to failure to immunize

Among the lessons learned from a recent flare-up of this vaccine-preventable disease is the importance of ensuring that health care workers are also fully protected.

By Susan J. Landers, AMNews staff. Aug. 28, 2006.

Washington -- Fear among public health officials that a declining rate of immunization among children could lead to an outbreak of a previously controlled disease became an unfortunate reality last year when the largest outbreak of measles to hit the United States in more than a decade swept through an Indiana community.

Thirty-four people, including one hospital worker, were infected by a strain of measles imported from Romania. The resulting outbreak occurred because several families who indicated they had concerns about the vaccines' safety declined to have their home-schooled children immunized, concluded public health workers who helped contain the disease.

About 500 people attended an Indiana gathering with a young woman who had recently returned from a church-sponsored trip to a Romanian orphanage. She had become infected with measles during that trip.

Of the 50 or so people who were at the event and also lacked evidence of immunity to the disease, 16 came down with it. Over the next six weeks, the toll rose to 34, including a 34-year-old hospital employee who was hospitalized. All recovered.

The outbreak provided a case study in the spread of vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. Among the lessons learned: "Relatively small numbers of unvaccinated individuals can produce outbreaks in the United States when vaccination recommendations are not followed for children, foreign travelers and health care workers," concluded Amy A. Parker, MPH, an epidemic intelligence officer with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.