Focolai di morbillo nella popolazione nomade in italia: giugno-settembre 2006

Three clusters of measles cases occurred between June and September 2006, in three different Italian regions: the Autonomous Province of Bolzano-South Tyrol (17 cases); Lazio (161 cases); and the island of Sardinia (9 cases). The clusters affected mainly Roma/Sinti communities with low vaccination coverage, and, in Bolzano and Lazio regions, also spread to the general population. In response to the outbreaks, active tracing and vaccination of susceptible contacts were performed by local health authorities in all three regions and vaccination sessions were conducted directly in campsites affected by the outbreak. A second MMR vaccine dose was also offered to contacts who had previously received only one dose. The occurrence of these outbreaks underscores the need to achieve and maintain high vaccination coverage with two doses of MMR vaccine, through routine immunisation in the general population, and to ensure that hard to reach populations such as children from Roma/Sinti and immigrant communities also have access to immunisation. Factors that impede these children from being immunised must be adequately addressed and special strategies should be developed to reach these populations on a regular basis. In addition, it is important that all healthcare personnel and people travelling abroad are also fully immunised.