European Monthly Measles Monitoring Report, September 2011
In September, the coordination of surveillance of measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases at the European level was transferred from Statens Serum Institut in Denmark (the previous coordinating agency for the EUVAC.NET hub) to ECDC and countries started reporting to The European Surveillance System (TESSy).
Executive Summary
Since the last European monthly measles monitoring report (EMMO) published on 16 September, nearly 800 new measles cases were detected in the EU and EEA/EFTA countries. This brings the total number of cases in 2011 to more than 29 100. No new measles outbreaks were reported during September and transmission has continued to slow down in the second half of the year.
Measles, a highly infectious vaccine-preventable disease, is re-emerging in Europe. Countries within the European Region of the World Health Organization, which include EU and EEA/EFTA countries, have committed to eliminate measles by 2015. Elimination of measles requires sustained vaccination coverage above 95% with two doses of a measles-containing vaccine (MCV).
ECDC is monitoring measles transmission in these countries and produces epidemiological updates. The EMMO aims to provide timely public updates on the measles situation in Europe for effective disease control measures, and in support of the common 2015 measles elimination target.
In September, the coordination of surveillance of measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases at European level was transferred from the Statens Serum Institut in Denmark (the former EUVAC.NET hub coordinator) to ECDC and countries started reporting to The European Surveillance System (TESSy). At the same time, the EUVAC.NET website migrated to the ECDC website. This is the first edition of the EMMO presenting data reported by countries to TESSy
