Measles transmission in immunized and partially immunized air travellers

Abstract

Most cases of measles in Australia are associated with travel or acquired from travellers from overseas. This study presents a series of three secondary cases of measles acquired through contact with a case of infectious measles acquired in China. Two of the cases were fully immunized siblings sitting eight rows behind the index case on a 4-h flight from Singapore. The third case was acquired in the airport where the index case was in transit. The report highlights the travel-associated risk of measles and discusses the heredity of vaccine-induced measles immunity. Copyright © 2009 The Northern Territory of Australia.