Measles reemergence in Ceará, northeast Brazil, 15 years after elimination

The study concludes that the measles outbreak in Ceará was probably imported directly from Europe or from there through the bordering state of Pernambuco (459). Cases were concentrated in Fortaleza and the northwest region of the state. Patient age distribution was significantly different between the capital where the infection most affected children <12 months of age and the inner cities where it most affected persons 15–29 years of age. Current heterogeneous measles vaccine coverage (45); a delayed response and insufficient vaccination coverage in the past particularly in socially disadvantaged populations from the inner cities; and difficulties in the prompt recognition and surveillance of suspected cases may explain why this outbreak occurred in a population with a vaccine coverage historically >95%. In addition vaccination campaigns directed at children <5 years of age may not have been sufficient to interrupt the outbreak because a substantial number of older persons were susceptible. Most notably because it has lasted >12 months Cearás current outbreak may represent the reestablishment of endemic transmission of measles in the Americas.