Measles in Canada: 2013

As an ongoing component of Canada's commitment to the maintenance and documentation of measles elimination status, the Public Health Agency of Canada (the Agency) conducts enhanced measles surveillance. The post-elimination Canadian measles epidemiology has been previously reported for 1998-2001 ^{Footnote 1} and 2002 to 2011 ^{Footnote 4}. There were only 10 confirmed measles cases reported in Canada in 2012, the majority (n = 6, 60.0%) of them importations without secondary spread. Information on these cases is available elsewhere ^{Footnote 8}. The objective of this report, therefore, is to describe measles activity in Canada during 2013, in order to support the documentation and maintenance of measles elimination status.

Methods

Surveillance dataset

Enhanced measles surveillance is carried out in all provinces and territories through the Canadian Measles and Rubella Surveillance System. On a weekly reporting cycle, provinces and territories report cases of measles meeting the national case definition ^{Footnote 9} to the Agency, including zero reporting, through a national case report form that is submitted by e-mail or fax. Three jurisdictions (British Columbia, Alberta, and Newfoundland and Labrador) are currently participating in the Measles and Rubella Surveillance pilot project, which provides real-time laboratory and epidemiological web-based reporting of suspect measles/rubella case investigations. Case details obtained from the national surveillance system case report forms and Measles and Rubella Surveillance web-based notifications were assessed against the national measles confirmed-case definition (laboratory confirmed or epidemiological link to a laboratory-confirmed case) before inclusion in the national database.

The objective of national measles surveillance is to continuously monitor the presence of measles virus in Canada in a timely way. To meet this objective, the Canadian Measles and Rubella Surveillance System captures cases that were communicable in Canada, regardless of country of residence. This allows accurate international and national reporting of the presence of measles virus in Canada, which is an essential criterion for measles elimination. However, this might result in case count discrepancies between federal and provincial/territorial surveillance systems, since some provincial/territorial systems do not include measles cases among foreign nationals.

This report includes enhanced data of confirmed measles cases, reported by the provinces and territories through both the national surveillance system and the surveillance pilot project, with rash onset during epidemiological weeks 1 to 52 for the 2013 reporting year (i.e. from December 30, 2012, to December 28, 2013). Probable cases ^{Footnote 9} are not nationally notifiable and therefore are not included in this report.

Case report form

The Canadian Measles and Rubella Surveillance System case report form is one page in length and designed to meet the objectives of national surveillance. The form facilitates collection of information on case identifiers (date of birth or age, gender, health unit, city, forward sortation area, date reported to health unit and date investigation was started); background, exposure and clinical information (date of rash onset, hospitalization, source of exposure, vaccination history [date of each dose] and whether the case was outbreak associated); and laboratory information (results of laboratory tests).

The data manager followed up with the reporting jurisdiction if information was missing on the form. At data entry, values coded as missing represented those that were blank on the form, and values coded as unknown represented those sought, but not available, from the reporting jurisdiction. A data validation process was conducted with provinces and territories in March 2014 for all measles cases reported nationally in 2013.

Genotyping

Measles virus genotyping was performed at the Public Health Agency of Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory. Appropriate clinical specimens (respiratory specimens and/or urines) collected from suspect or confirmed measles cases were submitted by provincial laboratories. The WHO's standardized genotyping regions of the 450 nucleotides encoding the carboxyl-terminus of the measles nucleoprotein, the N-450, and the full length hemagglutinin gene (H gene) ^{Footnote 10} were amplified and sequenced from extracted nucleic acid. The sequences were aligned with WHO genotype reference sequences ^{Footnote 11}, and phylogenetic trees were generated using MEGA5 software ^{Footnote 12}.

Data management and statistical analysis

Data management was conducted with Microsoft Access 2010. Descriptive epidemiological analyses were conducted with SAS Enterprise Guide 5.1 ^{Footnote 13}. Distribution of confirmed measles cases by province and territory, age group, sex, immunization history and hospitalization were described. Case counts and proportions were calculated for categorical variables, and means/medians and ranges were calculated for continuous variables. Cases with missing or unknown responses were included in the denominators for proportions. Incidence rates were generated using population estimates from Statistics Canada for 2013 ^{Footnote 14}. Rates were calculated per 1,000,000 population for consistency with the PAHO recommended indicator ^{Footnote 2}.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization's recommendations for measles immunization was used to determine whether cases' immunization status was up to date for age with measles-containing vaccine ^{Footnote 15}. Children aged < 1 year and adults born before 1970 were considered up to date for age with 0 or more doses of measles-containing vaccine. Cases aged 1 to 6 years were considered up to date for age with one or more doses of measles-containing vaccine and those aged 7 years and older (but born in 1970 or later) were up to date with two or more doses.

Essential criteria for measles elimination

In order to continue documentation and verification of measles elimination in the Region of the Americas, the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) has developed four criteria that it considers essential for each Member State to meet ^{Footnote 2}:

1. Verify the interruption of endemic measles cases for a period of at least three years from the last known endemic case, in the presence of high-quality surveillance;
2. Implement and maintain high-quality surveillance sensitive enough to detect imported and import-related cases;
3. Verify the absence of endemic measles virus strains through viral surveillance; and
4. Verify adequate immunization in the population.

Canada's performance towards maintenance of measles elimination was assessed against the four elimination criteria on the basis of the 2013 Canadian surveillance data.

This study was exempt from research ethics board approval because the data set was the result of public health surveillance.

Results

Overview

In 2013, a total of 83 confirmed measles cases were reported, for an overall incidence rate of 2.4 cases per 1,000,000 population. Of these cases, 53 (63.9%) were laboratory confirmed and 30 (36.1%) were epidemiologically linked to a laboratory-confirmed case.

Measles cases were reported in seven provinces and territories over 28 weeks in 2013. The maximum number of cases that occurred per week was 11, in weeks 45 and 46. These were outbreak-associated cases that occurred during the peak of a large outbreak in Alberta (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Number of reported measles cases by epidemiological week of rash onset and reporting province or territory, Canada, 2013

Text Equivalent - Figure 1

From January 1 to December 31 2013 there were 83 confirmed cases of measles reported in 7 provinces across Canada. The first case was reported on February 2, 2013 with cases being reported over a total of 28 weeks in 2013. The minimum number of cases reported was zero, in weeks 13 to 16, 18 to 22, 29, 31, 33, 37, 39 to 41, 49, 50 and 52. The maximum number of cases reported per week was 11 in weeks 45 and 46. These cases were part of a large outbreak in Alberta that included 42 cases and occurred from weeks 42 to 48.

Age, gender and geographic distribution

The majority of measles cases reported were male (n = 45, 54.2%). Children aged 1 to 4 years and 10 to 14 years each represented the highest proportion of cases (n = 17 and 20.5% each), followed by 15 to 19 and 20 to 24 year olds (n = 11 and 13.3% each). Of the four cases aged 40 years and older, three were born before 1970, the birth year cut-off for presumed natural immunity ^{Footnote 15}.

While the burden of disease extended from those aged 1 to 24 years, the incidence rate was highest among the youngest age groups (10.5 per 1,000,000 for those < 1 year; 11.0 per 1,000,000 for those 1 to 4 years) (Table 1).

Table 1. Confirmed measles cases and incidence rates (per 1,000,000 population) by age group, gender and reporting province or territory, Canada, 2013

Age group (years)	M	F	CA	BC	AB	SK	MB	ON	QC	NB	NS	PE	NL	YT	NT	NU	Overall incidence rate
< 1	4	0	4	2	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	10.5
1 to 4	12	5	17	1	6	0	0	7	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	11.0
5 to 9	6	3	9	0	7	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4.8
10 to 14	6	11	17	1	15	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	9.1
15 to 19	5	6	11	0	9	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	5.0
20 to 24	4	7	11	5	5	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4.5
25 to 29	2	2	4	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.7
30 to 39	6	0	6	3	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.3
40 to 59	0	4	4	2	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.4
> 60	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	45	38	83	17	43	1	0	16 **	1	3	0	2	0	0	0	0	2.4
Incidence rate	2.6	2.1	2.4	3.7	10.7	0.9	0	1.2	0.1	4.0	0	13.8	0	0	0	0	2.6
Footnote * *M: male; F: female; CA: Canada Footnote ** **One Ontario case was a traveller from the Netherlands and is not included in Ontario's provincial measles case counts of 15 for 2013.

Cases were reported in 7 of the 13 Canadian provinces and territories: Alberta (n = 43), British Columbia (n = 17), Ontario (n = 16), New Brunswick (n = 3), Prince Edward Island (n = 2), Quebec (n = 1) and Saskatchewan (n = 1). The incidence rate was highest in Prince Edward Island, given its small population, followed by Alberta, with 13.8 and 10.7 cases per 1,000,000 population respectively. The incidence for the each of the remaining provinces was less than 5.0 cases per 1,000,000 population (Table 1).

Immunization history

Of the 83 cases reported in 2013, 13.3% (n = 11) had an immunization status considered up to date for age (Table 2). These included four infants < 1 year who were too young to receive their first dose of measles-containing vaccine and one adult born before 1970. Conversely, 75.9% (n = 63) were not up to date for age at the time of infection and immunization status was unknown for 10.8% (n = 9); two of these were born before 1970 and are presumed to be immune regardless of immunization history.

Table 2. Immunization status of confirmed measles cases by age group, Canada, 2013

Age group (years)	Total	0 doses	Up To Date with 0 doses	One dose	Up To Date with 1 dose	Two doses	Unknown
< 1	4	4	4	0	-	0	0
1 to 4	17	14	0	2	2	1	0
5 to 9	9	9	0	0	-	0	0
10 to 14	17	17	0	0	-	0	0
15 to 19	11	10	0	0	-	1	0
20 to 24	11	7	0	0	-	2	2
25 to 29	4	3	0	1	0	0	0
30 to 39	6	1	0	0	-	0	5
40 to 59	4	2	1	0	-	0	2
> 60	0	0	-	0	-	0	0
Unknown	0	0	-	0	-	0	0
Total	83	67	5	3	2	4	9

Mirroring the age group distribution of the cases, inadequate immunization status was most commonly reported in the 10 to 14 and 1 to 4 year age groups (27.0% and 22.2% respectively), followed by the 5 to 9 and 15 to 19 year olds (14.3 and 15.9% respectively).

Hospitalization

Of the 83 reported cases, 9.6% (n = 8) were hospitalized (Table 3). Half of the infants < 1 year and 30% of cases among adults 25 to 39 years were hospitalized. Hospitalization was infrequent among cases 1 to 24 years of age.

Table 3. Hospitalization status of confirmed measles cases by age group, Canada, 2013

Age group (years)	Total	Not hospitalized no. (%)	Hospitalized no. (%)	Unknown no. (%)
< 1	4	2 (50.0)	2 (50.0)	0 (-)
1 to 4	17	14 (82.4)	2 (11.8)	1 (5.9)
5 to 9	9	9 (100.0)	0 (-)	0 (-)
10 to 14	17	17 (100.0)	0 (-)	0 (-)
15 to 19	11	10 (90.9)	1 (9.1)	0 (-)
20 to 24	11	11 (100.0)	0 (-)	0 (-)
25 to 29	4	3 (75.0)	1 (25.0)	0 (-)
30 to 39	6	4 (66.7)	2 (33.3)	0 (-)
40 to 59	4	4 (100.0)	0 (-)	0 (-)
> 60	0	0 (-)	0 (-)	0 (-)
Unknown	0	0 (-)	0 (-)	0 (-)
Total	83	74 (89.2)	8 (9.6)	1 (1.2)

Molecular epidemiology

During 2013, specimens were available to determine the genotype for 50 of 83 (60.2%) reported cases of measles. Measles genotypes were D8 (n = 34), B3 (n = 13), H1 (n = 2) and D4 (n = 1).

Measles genotype D8 was detected in 34 cases and seven outbreaks (Table 4). In general, this genotype has been associated with endemic transmission in the Eastern Mediterranean region, primarily in the Southeast Asian region ^{Footnote 16}. The genotype D8 sequences identified could be further subdivided as four sequence variants (Figure 2): those that were identical to MVs/Taunton.GBR/27.12 (GenBank accession number JX984461) (n = 18), MVs/Frankfurt Main.DEU/17.11 (GenBank accession number KF683445) (n = 10), MVs/Swansea.GBR/4.13 (GenBank accession number KF214761) (n = 4) and MVi/Villupuram.Ind/03.07 (GenBank accession number FJ765078) (n = 2). The two cases that had sequences identical to MVi/Villupuram.Ind/03.07 were part of an outbreak that began as a result of an importation from Thailand (Table 4), where the sequence was circulating (GenBank accession numbers KC631635, KC631637-41). Measles sequences identical to MVs/Swansea.GBR/4.13 were detected in four cases, of which the two primary cases (MVs/New Brunswick.CAN/7.13 and MVs/Ontario.CAN/8.13, Figure 2) had returned from Mexico (Table 4). At the time, this sequence variant had been reported to the WHO measles sequence database, MeaNS ^{Footnote 16}, only from the UK (Kevin Brown, Public Health, England: personal communication, March 7, 2013), supporting the identification of a UK tourist as the index case.

Each entry represents a sequence from an individual measles case. Phylogenetic trees demonstrate the relatedness of genetic sequences. Sequences on the same vertical line are identical. The length of horizontal lines separating sequences or branches of sequences is proportional to the number of differences (measured in single nucleotides) between the sequences (scale shown at the bottom left). WHO reference sequences ^{Footnote 11} are shown in bold, italic font. Relevant sequence variants are shown in italics. These are identified within the WHO measles sequence database, MeaNS (accessible at http://www.who-measles.org/Public/Web_Front/sequence.php), and represent prevalent sequences within the database ^{Footnote 11} Canadian sequences are shown in regular font and are identified by their WHO name, which indicates province and week of rash onset or specimen collection. Cases of imported virus are identified with "ex: < 3 letter country code >." Outbreaks are represented by colour fonts: sequences with the same colour, within the same genotype, are from the same outbreak.

Figure 2. Phylogenetic tree of measles N-450 sequences detected in Canada in 2013 (n = 50)

Text Equivalent - Figure 2

The phylogenetic tree of measles N-450 sequences detected in Canada in 2013 (n=50) is shown in figure 2. Measles genotype D8 was detected in 34 cases in 7 outbreaks. The genotype D8 sequences identified could be subdivided as four sequence variants: those that were identical to MVs/Taunton.GBR/27.12 (n=18), MVs/Frankfurt Main.DEU/17.11 (n=10), MVs/Swansea.GBR/4.13 (n=4) and MVi/Villupuram.Ind/03.07 (n=2). The majority of the D8 sequences in 2013 were identical to the MVs/Taunton.GBR/27.12 sequence variant (n=18) and all 18 were linked to the Netherlands where the same sequence variant was associated with an ongoing outbreak. Fifteen were associated with the Alberta outbreak while the remaining three were unrelated importations. Measles genotype B3 was detected in 13 cases and was associated with two outbreaks where the origin could not be determined. All Canadian B3 viruses sequenced were identical to the MVi/Harare.ZWE/38.09 sequence variant. All genotype B3 cases were identical at the primary genotyping region, the N-450. Genotypes H1 (n=2) and D4 (n=1) were detected in three sporadic cases in 2013.

In the months of June and July, four outbreaks occurred simultaneously in three provinces: Ontario, Prince Edward Island and British Columbia (n = 2), and sequences identical to MVs/Frankfurt Main.DEU/17.11 was identified from all four outbreaks (Figure 2). At the time of the outbreaks, the MVs/Frankfurt Main.DEU/17.11 sequence variant was circulating in the European region (GenBank accession numbers KF269094, KJ690815, KF290740, KF715463, KF269089) and detected in the United States (GenBank accession number KF385861). Sequencing of the secondary WHO genotyping region, the H gene, did not differentiate the four outbreaks (Figure 3).

WHO reference sequences ^{Footnote 11} are shown in bold, italic font. Canadian sequences are shown in regular font and are identified by their WHO name, which indicates province and week of rash onset or specimen collection. Cases of imported virus are identified with "ex:< 3 letter country code>." Outbreaks are represented by colour fonts: sequences with the same colour, within the same genotype, are from the same outbreak.

Figure 3. Phylogenetic tree of measles H gene sequences detected in Canada in 2013 (n = 43)

Text Equivalent - Figure 3

The phylogenetic tree of measles H gene sequences detected in Canada in 2013 (n=43) is shown in figure 3. Two of the separate importations of D8 sequence identical to the MVs/Taunton.GBR/27.12 sequence variant had distinct H gene sequences (MVs/Ontario.CAN/30.13 and MVs/British Columbia.CAN/31.13). Although all genotype B3 cases were identical at the primary genotyping region, the N-450, the outbreaks and sporadic cases of genotype B3 were distinguished by H gene sequencing.

The majority of the D8 sequences in 2013 were identical to the MVs/Taunton.GBR/27.12 sequence variant (n = 18), and all 18 were linked to the Netherlands (Figure 2), where the same sequence variant was associated with an ongoing outbreak (Susan Hahné, RIVM - Centre for Infectious Disease Control, the Netherlands: personal communication, June 12, 2013). Fifteen were associated with the Alberta outbreak, and the remaining three were unrelated importations. Two of the separate importations had distinct H gene sequences (MVs/Ontario.CAN/30.13 and MVs/British Columbia.CAN/31.13, Figure 3).

Measles genotype B3 was detected in 13 cases and was associated with two outbreaks whose origin could not be determined (Table 4, Figure 2). Genotype B3 has been associated with endemic transmission throughout the African region as well as a number of countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region ^{Footnote 16}. All Canadian B3 viruses sequenced were identical to the MVi/Harare.ZWE/38.09 sequence variant (GenBank accession number JF973033). At the time of the first outbreak in Ontario, this sequence variant was circulating in the Eastern Mediterranean region (GenBank accession numbers KC737549 and KF145165). Two sporadic cases were imported from Pakistan between outbreaks. At the time of the fourth outbreak in British Columbia, in the fall of 2013, this sequence variant was being reported from the Western Pacific and European regions in addition to the Eastern Mediterranean region (GenBank accession numbers KJ690812-4, KF468720, AB854746-7 and KF740427). At the end of the year, this sequence variant was also imported from the Philippines. Although all genotype B3 cases were identical at the primary genotyping region, the N-450 (Figure 2), the outbreaks and sporadic cases were distinguished by H gene sequencing (Figure 3).

Genotypes H1 (n = 2) and D4 (n = 1) were detected in three sporadic cases in 2013 (Figure 2). Genotype H1 was twice imported from the Western Pacific region, where it is endemic ^{Footnote 16}. Genotype D4 has been associated with endemic transmission in the Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asian and European regions ^{Footnote 16}. The source of the D4 case was unknown, although it was identical to a sequence variant circulating in the European region, MVs/Manchester.GBR/10.09 (GenBank accession numbers GQ370461, KC709569 and KF831037).

Summary of 2013 Canadian measles outbreaks

Nationally, an outbreak is defined as two or more cases of measles linked by person, place and time ^{Footnote 17}. In 2013, there were nine outbreaks composed of 71 cases. Of the remaining 12 non-outbreak-associated cases, seven were importations, and there was insufficient information to associate five cases with an existing outbreak.

Key characteristics of the reported outbreaks are included in Table 4. Outbreaks are presented in chronological order of rash onset of the index case. When the nature of the epidemiological links between outbreak-associated cases was not clearly described on the national case report form, this is specified in the table.

More than half (n = 42) of the outbreak-associated cases in 2013 was the result of a large outbreak in Alberta from October 16 to November 25 (duration: 40 days). This outbreak occurred in a non-immunizing community as a result of an importation from the Netherlands. The majority of the cases were male, median age was 13 years, and all cases were unimmunized. Additional details regarding this outbreak are provided elsewhere ^{Footnote 18}.

The following outbreak summary excludes the Alberta outbreak cases so as to not skew the results. The median number of cases per outbreak was 3.5 (the mean was similar at 3.6). The median duration from onset dates of the index case and last outbreak-associated cases was 14.5 days (or one incubation period from infection to rash onset) ^{Footnote 19}. The majority of the outbreaks (75.0%, n = 6) were limited to two generations of spread (median: 2). While outbreaks 3 and 4 (Ontario) were more extensive temporally, they were restricted to only five and six cases respectively. The origin of three outbreaks could not be determined.

Canadian measles in the global context

Of the 83 reported cases in 2013, 14.5% (n = 12) were classified as imported and 54.2% (n = 45) were epidemiologically linked to an imported case. Source of exposure could not be identified for 8.4% (n = 7), and 22.9% (n = 19) were epidemiologically linked to a case whose source of exposure was unknown.

The suspected country of exposure was identified for all importations. The 12 importations were acquired from the European Region (Austria/Italy/France [n = 1] and the Netherlands [n = 3]), the Western Pacific Region (China [n = 1], the Philippines [n = 1], and Taiwan [n = 1]), the Eastern Mediterranean Region (Pakistan [n = 2]), the Southeast Asian Region (Thailand [n = 1]) and the Region of the Americas (Mexico [n = 2]).

All importations were the result of a Canadian travelling to a measles-endemic country or being exposed to other travellers from measles-endemic countries (e.g.exposure to UK resident in Mexico). One importation was the result of a foreign national traveling to Canada while the infection was communicable.

Table 4. Summary of the nine measles outbreaks reported in Canada, 2013

#	Prov.	No. of cases	Onset date range (duration in days; number of generations)	Strain and sequence designation	Description
1	BC	2	January 31 to February 12 (13; 2 generations)	D8	Index case imported the virus from Thailand. Secondary case was a household contact.
2	NB and ON	4	February 19 to March 4 (14; 2 generations)	D8	The index case was a traveller from the UK, who was visiting a resort in Mexico. Two Canadians (one from ON and one from NB) were exposed to this measles case at the resort. The ON resident was aged 30 to 39 years, with unknown immunization history. There were no secondary cases associated with the ON case. The NB resident was aged 30 to 39 years and was unimmunized. There were two secondary cases that occurred in Canada among unimmunized family members of the NB case. Both were aged 1 to 4 years.
3	ON	5	February 24 to March 21 (26; 3 generations)	B3	This outbreak occurred in a childcare centre. The source of exposure for the index case is unknown. All cases were between the ages of 1 and 4 years. Three cases (including the index) were unimmunized. Both immunized cases were up to date for age.
4	ON	6	June 8 to July 24 (47; 4 generations)	D8	The three co-index cases had rash onset on June 8. Co-index cases were unimmunized children aged 1 to 9 years who had recent travel history to British Columbia during their exposure period. A secondary case was associated with the co-index cases, with suspected exposure in a health care setting: subsequent transmission resulted in a tertiary case in the same type of setting. No exposure, other than co-index cases, was found for the 6th case (fourth generation).
5	PE	2	June 10 to June 22 (13; 2 generations)	D8	Index case had recently travelled to Europe (Austria, Italy and France) where exposure was suspected. However, the D8 strain was not being reported in those countries at that time. Secondary case was a sibling of the index case. Both cases were unimmunized and aged 10 to 19 years.
6	BC	3	June 10 to June 26 (17; 2 generations)	D8	Index case had recent travel outside of Canada to New York City, but epidemiological investigation also suggests possible exposure at Vancouver International Airport. Two secondary cases were associated with the index case: the first was through workplace exposure and the nature of the second exposure was not provided. Cases were aged 39 to 49 years. Immunization history was known for 1 case (unimmunized, but considered up to date for age).
7	BC	4	June 24 to July 6 (13; 2 generations)	D8	Index case was an unimmunized 25 to 29 year old, without history of travel. Three secondary cases were associated with the index case. The nature of the exposure was not provided. Secondary cases were aged 20 to 29 years. One was up to date for age, one had received 1 documented dose of MMR, and the third had reported 2 undocumented doses of MMR.
8	BC	3	September 2 to September 16 (15; 2 generations)	B3	Index case was an unimmunized < 1 year old, without history of travel. There were two secondary cases: the first aged 1 to 4 years with no immunization history and the second aged 30 to 39 years with unknown immunization history.
9	AB	42	October 16 to November 25 (41; 4 generations)	D8	Index case was exposed in the Netherlands. Outbreak occurred in a non-immunizing community. Cases ranged in age from < 1 year to 24 years.
Footnote * *MMR: measles mumps rubella vaccine.

Maintenance of measles elimination

PAHO's four essential criteria for measles elimination are listed in Table 5 with a description of the indicator used to measure them and a summary of how the measles surveillance data support Canada's ongoing efforts to sustain its elimination status.

Table 5. Pan American Health Organization essential criteria for the elimination of measles

Criterion Footnote 17	Indicator	Description
Verify the interruption of endemic measles cases for a period of at least 3 years from the last known endemic case, in the presence of high-quality surveillance	Zero cases of endemic transmission	Criterion met Documentation and verification of interruption of endemic measles in Canada from 1998 to 2011 are provided elsewhere Footnote 1 Footnote 4. Molecular and epidemiological surveillance will continue through 2014 to ensure that there is no persistent circulation of the viral strains identified in 2013 for a period equal to or greater than 12 months.
Implement and maintain high-quality surveillance sensitive enough to detect imported and import-related cases	> 2 suspect cases per 100,000 population adequately investigated	Criterion partially met Data to support this indicator not available nationally. However, a national estimate was determined from the Measles and Rubella Surveillance pilot project data for the 2011 reporting year. The national measles-like illness investigation rate was 19 per 100,000 population. Note: this indicator was estimated during an outbreak year (Quebec 2011). Comparatively, the national estimate during the 2006 non-outbreak year was 12 per 100,000 population.
Verify the absence of endemic measles virus strains through viral surveillance	Measles genotype assessed in 80% of outbreaks	Criterion met The measles genotype was identified in 100% of the outbreaks in 2013.
Verify adequate immunization in the population	95% of population cohorts aged 1 to 40 years have received a measles-containing vaccine	Criterion partially met Data to support this indicator not available nationally for all age groups. The most recent national immunization coverage survey estimated first dose measles-containing vaccine coverage among 2 year olds to be 95.2% and second dose measles-containing vaccine coverage among 7 year olds to be 94.9% in 2011 Footnote 6. However, according to epidemiological investigation of recent outbreaks and communication with provinces and territories we know that immunization coverage is heterogeneous across Canada, and there are areas with lower (and higher) coverage.

Discussion

This report summarizes the epidemiology of measles in Canada in 2013. Although measles has been eliminated in Canada, we continue to see cases of disease. While the 83 reported cases in 2013 represent the fifth highest number annually since 1998, eight of the nine outbreaks were highly restricted in their case distribution by either person or time (i.e. small number of cases or short outbreak duration). These findings suggest a possible combination of prompt and effective public health intervention and/or high immunization coverage among contacts. However, the large outbreak in the non-immunizing community in Alberta highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining measles elimination in a country with heterogeneous immunization coverage.

In 2013, Canada had a number of importations, all from countries with endemic measles or outbreaks. All but one of these importations were by Canadians who acquired the disease while travelling abroad (the other was a foreign resident who travelled to Canada while communicable), emphasizing the continued importance of ensuring that all Canadians are adequately immunized, particularly before travelling.

Four measles genotypes were observed in 2013, D8 being the most prevalent and geographically represented (five provinces reported cases associated with this genotype).

Canada met or partially met all four criteria for measles elimination in 2013. Epidemiological and molecular measles surveillance was able to confirm the absence of circulation of any one dominant viral strain, although ongoing surveillance is required to ensure that this is sustained. While suspect case investigations are not captured at the national level, the proxy indicator measured through the Measles and Rubella Surveillance pilot project indicates an investigation rate in excess of the minimum required. Finally, despite national coverage estimates of 95%, pockets of people and groups within the population remain susceptible.

Limitations

Outcome information (e.g. duration of hospitalization, complications or death) on measles cases is not captured through national surveillance. Therefore, characterization of measles cases by severity of disease is not possible. Immunization status was unknown for 11% of cases, which limits our ability to fully understand the distribution of disease by immunization history.

The ability to collect detailed immunization histories of cases may be a challenge at the local level, where information is primarily gathered and submitted to provincial and then federal authorities for surveillance purposes. Improving the collection of immunization history in case reports should be explored.

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the contribution of our provincial and territorial measles partners for providing data to the Canadian Measles and Rubella Surveillance System, for their input towards the format of this report and for their content review.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest to declare.

Funding

This work was supported by the Public Health Agency of Canada.