Emerging Infectious Diseases (Jan 2008)

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. Naumova,
  • Jasminka 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

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1401.070778
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 1
pp. 107 – 114

Abstract

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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.

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