국내 의료기관에서 홍역 발생과 전파를 최소화하기 위한 전략

Abstract

The introduction of a second dose of the measles vaccine has facilitated a significant reduction in the global measles burden. However, measles remains a disease with high morbidity and mortality rates in many countries, particularly those with low vaccination rates. In addition, several countries which had previously achieved measles elimination have experienced a resurgence of measles, as verified by the World Health Organization. A global measles outbreak between 2018 and 2019 resulted in the largest number of cases since 1996. During this period, several small-sized outbreaks, in which healthcare facilities facilitated measles transmission, were reported in South Korea. Because of the enclosed and crowded settings of hospitals, nosocomial transmission can play an important role in the current measles epidemiology. Therefore, strategies are necessary to minimize nosocomial transmission and control measles outbreaks. Herein, I review the characteristics of measles transmission in hospitals and introduce several strategies to promote the prevention and control of measles in healthcare facilities.