Molecular epidemiology of measles virus

• Published in: Current topics in microbiology and immunology Vol. 330; p. 129
• Main Authors: Rota, P A, Featherstone, D A, Bellini, W J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 2009
• Subjects: Disease Notification; Disease Outbreaks - prevention & control; Genetic Variation; Genotype; Global Health; Humans; Measles - epidemiology; Measles - prevention & control; Measles - transmission; Measles - virology; Measles virus - classification; Measles virus - genetics; Measles virus - isolation & purification; Molecular Epidemiology - methods; Phylogeny
• ISSN: 0070-217X
• DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-70617-5_7

Genetic characterization of wild-type measles viruses provides a means to study the transmission pathways of the virus and is an essential component of laboratory-based surveillance. Laboratory-based surveillance for measles and rubella, including genetic characterization of wild-type viruses, is performed throughout the world by the WHO Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network, which serves 166 countries in all WHO regions. In particular, the genetic data can help confirm the sources of virus or suggest a source for unknown-source cases as well as to establish links, or lack thereof, between various cases and outbreaks. Virologic surveillance has helped to document the interruption of transmission of endemic measles in some regions. Thus, molecular characterization of measles viruses has provided a valuable tool for measuring the effectiveness of measles control programs, and virologic surveillance needs to be expanded in all areas of the world and conducted during all phases of measles control.