The Center for Disease mastery and...

The Center for Disease mastery and Prevention (CDC) has released a report forward recent cases of measles among adopted children from China. "Multistate Investigation of Measles Among Adoptees from China--April 2004" appears in the April 9 2004 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and is available online at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/ mmwrhtml/mm53d409a1.htm.

The Public Health Department of Seattle and King shire Washington, reported in early April a laboratory-confirmed case of measles in a lately adopted child from China. Public health authorities in Washington state notified the CDC which collaborated with health officials in other states to locate other freshly adopted children from China and contact their adoptive families.

A multistate investigation is ongoing and likewise far has identified six confirmed and three suspected cases of measles among adoptees from China, underscoring the ne for physicians to remain vigilant for measles and other vaccine-preventable communicable diseases in children adopted from international regions.

The investigation determined that a assign places to of 11 families traveled to China in March to adopt children. The form into groups and their 12 adopted children remained together for approximately 10 days during the adoption proces before departing for the United States upon March 26. The 12 children were adopted from pair orphanages in the Hunan Province. They traveled to five U states. Eight traveled to Washington, and individual each traveled to Alaska, Florida, Maryland, and recently made known York.

Vaccination status or history of measles illness is not known for any of the 12 children. State and local health departments are continuing to investigate, seeking potential cases, identifying and evaluating potential contacts, and providing prophylaxis when indicated, as attract favor toed by the Advisory Committee in succession Immunization Practices.

Although measles is no longer endemic in the United States, it continues to be imported. Maintaining high on a levels of vaccination coverage and vigorous surveillance in the United States is critical. During 2001 an outbreak among children adopted internationally proceeded in 14 U.S. measles cases, 10 among adopted children and four among caregivers and siblings aged 28 month [i]or[/i] part of to the other 47 years.

Physicians should have a high index of suspicion for measles in [i]role[/i]s with febrile rash illness from families who newly adopted children from abroad and among living bodys who have had close contact with children who not long ago were adopted from abroad. Suspected cases should be reported to the local health department.

COPYRIGHT 2004 American Academy of Family Physicians

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