Greek measles epidemic strain, 2005–2006

Molecular and phylogenetic analysis of Greek measles 2010 strains

“…In fact, according to several studies carried out in [2003][2004][2005] in different parts of Greece, vaccination coverage of preschool children, schoolchildren, and adolescents with one dose of MMR vaccine is >95% in the non-minority population and 80-90% in children of immigrant families. Vaccination with two doses covers about 60-80% of the general child population, but vaccination coverage in Roma families has been found to be very low (2-12 %) despite the number of vaccination campaigns that took place in this group during the previous years [6].…”

“…Interestingly, the Greek 2005–2006 D4 strain showed a 5·5–6·4% genetic distance from the present circulating D4 strains, which indicates the possibilty that D4 circulation was interrupted from 2006 to 2009 and a new transmission chain initiated. However, most of the Greek measles strains during the 2005–2006 outbreak were of D6 genotype [6, 7], which has also disappeared probably due to the enhanced vaccination strategy that followed.…”

“…Greece has experienced measles outbreaks in 2006 and 2010. Molecular analysis of the 2006 measles outbreak showed that measles D6 genotype strains were responsible for the outbreak in northern Greece, while strains of the D6 and D4 genotypes were co-circulating in the south [6, 7]. The current measles outbreak has been ongoing since January 2010, with a total of 126 cases, reported up to July 2010 to the Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention (HCDCP) through the mandatory notification system.…”