Measles outbreak investigation in factories in central Thailand during June to August 2019

Abstract

The WHO aims to eliminate measles which is a vaccine preventable disease caused by a paramyxovirus. The symptoms are including fever, rash, Koplik’s spot, myalgia, cough, rhinorrhea. In June 2019, Office of Disease Prevention and Control 4 Saraburi was notified two outbreaks of fever with rash in two factories in different provinces. This investigation has objectives to confirm diagnosis and outbreak, describe epidemiological characteristics of the outbreak, identify sources of infection and mode of transmission, and recommendation for disease control. 154 patients were identified during June to August 2019. Most of them were Myanmar with unknow vaccine history and did not receive Measles and Rubella vaccine in Thailand before started working. The outbreak occurred after that. The first cases of both factories came from the same state in Myanmar. Both factories produce food products. In production plants are cool rooms with wearing personnel protective equipment including gown, groves, mask, hair clovers, and boots are required. Isolation of the patients, quarantine the contacts, and vaccination were done to control the outbreak. The factory with more vaccination given could control the outbreak faster than another factory. The vaccination should be given in those with unknown history of vaccination before working and during the outbreak especially those who could contact to the patients.