J Korean Med Sci.  2023 Jan;38(3):e28. 10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e28.

A Measles Outbreak in a Local Children’s Hospital in Korea, 2019

• So H
• Kim KM
• Bae EY
• Cho EY

• KMID: 2538375
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2023.38.e28

Abstract

A measles outbreak with 20 confirmed cases occurred at a local children’s hospital in Daejeon from March 28 to April 21, 2019. The index patient was a 7-month-old girl with a recent history of travel to Vietnam. Contact tracing, active surveillance, and post-exposure prophylaxis were conducted by health authorities. Among the 20 patients, 11 (55%) were infants (0–11 months of age), three (15%) were aged 1–3 years, one (5%) was aged 4 years, and five (25%) were adults. Fifteen (75%) patients did not have a history of measles vaccination, and five (25%) had received only one vaccine dose. This study described the importance of prompt application of infection control measures in susceptible environments, including hospitals. Age-appropriate vaccination and providing information on infectious diseases to international travelers and multicultural families in Korea is vital.

Keyword

Measles; Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; Disease Outbreaks; Hospitals; Pediatric; Republic of Korea

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Outbreak of measles in a local children’s hospital in Daejeon, Korea, 2019. Cases without rash (n = 2) are not included in this figure.

• 

  Fig. 2 Distribution of measles cases by age group and immunization history.

Reference

1. Hübschen JM, Gouandjika-Vasilache I, Dina J. Measles. Lancet. 2022; 399(10325):678–690. PMID: 35093206.

2. Cousins S. Measles: a global resurgence. Lancet Infect Dis. 2019; 19(4):362–363. PMID: 31002077.

3. Choe YJ, Jee Y, Oh MD, Lee JK. Measles elimination activities in the Western Pacific Region: experience from the Republic of Korea. J Korean Med Sci. 2015; 30(Suppl 2):Suppl 2. S115–S121. PMID: 26617443.

4. Choi S, Cho EH. Analysis of the occurrence of measles in Korea, 2019. Public Health Wkly Rep. 2020; 13:2445–2458.

5. Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Guidelines for Measles Outbreak Investigation and Response. Osong, Korea: KCDC;2019.

6. American Academy of Pediatrics. Measles. Kimberlin DW, Barnett ED, Lynfield R, Sawyer MH, editors. Red Book: 2021 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. Itasca, IL, USA: American Academy of Pediatrics;2021. p. 503–519.

7. Kang HJ, Han YW, Kim SJ, Kim YJ, Kim AR, Kim JA, et al. An increasing, potentially measles-susceptible population over time after vaccination in Korea. Vaccine. 2017; 35(33):4126–4132. PMID: 28669617.

8. Korea Ministry of Culture Sports and Tourism. Korea National Tourism Survey, 2019. Sejong, Korea: Korea Ministry of Culture Sports and Tourism;2020. p. 170–172.

9. Statistics Korea. Multicultural Population Dynamics in 2020. Daejeon, Korea: Statistics Korea;2021.