Measles in Canada: 2015

Abstract

Background: Measles has been eliminated in Canada since 1998. Every year, the Public Health Agency of Canada presents epidemiologic evidence to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to verify that measles elimination continues in Canada.

Objective: To describe measles activity in Canada for 2015 as updated evidence for continued measles elimination status.

Methods: Measles surveillance data were captured by the Canadian Measles and Rubella Surveillance System (CMRSS) and the Measles and Rubella Surveillance (MARS) pilot project and assessed for distribution by demographics and risk factors. Outbreak characteristics were summarized and genotypic and phylogenetic analyses were conducted and described. Surveillance data for 2015 were evaluated against PAHO’s essential criteria for measles elimination status.

Results: In 2015, the incidence of measles in Canada was 5.5 cases per 1,000,000 population, with 196 cases across four provinces. The majority of cases (87.2%, n=171) were not immunized and both age-specific incidence rates and case counts were highest among those aged 10 to 14 years (29.5 cases per 1,000,000 population, n=55). This was due in large part to a sizeable outbreak in a non-immunizing religious community. Overall, 10.7% (n=21) of cases were hospitalized. Genotype information was available for 100% of measles events (4/4 outbreaks and 6/6 sporadic cases). Canada met or partially met most of PAHO’s criteria for verification of measles elimination.

Conclusion: Although importations and areas of low immunization coverage continue to challenge Canada’s elimination status, surveillance data for 2015 provides strong evidence that measles elimination has been maintained.

Introduction

Measles is one of the most infectious diseases known. Before vaccines against measles became widely available, the disease was a significant cause of death and disability worldwide, leading to an estimated 2.6 million deaths every year ^{Footnote 1}.

In Canada, measles has been a nationally notifiable disease since 1924, except between 1959 and 1968. Enhanced, case-based surveillance of measles is coordinated by the Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases and the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) at the Public Health Agency of Canada, through the Canadian Measles and Rubella surveillance system (CMRSS) and the Measles and Rubella Surveillance (MARS) pilot project. Enhanced surveillance of measles is necessary to provide sufficient evidence for measles elimination.

The elimination of measles is defined as the absence of endemic measles transmission in a defined geographic area for 12 months or more, in the presence of a well-performing surveillance system ^{Footnote 2}. The elimination of measles in Canada has been described as an important and attainable public health objective since at least 1980 ^{Footnote 3}. During the 1992 Consensus Conference on Measles, Canada set the goal of achieving measles elimination by 2005 ^{Footnote 4}. This was revised at the 1994 XXIV Pan American Sanitary Conference, where Canada and other member states agreed to eliminate measles in the Americas by 2000 ^{Footnote 5}. Following the implementation of a two-dose routine immunization program against measles, the last endemic case in Canada was reported in 1997 and measles elimination status was achieved one year later ^{Footnote 6}.

Despite this success, Canada’s elimination status continues to be challenged by importations of measles from other countries, where the disease remains endemic. In order to verify measles elimination status on an ongoing basis, Canada submits surveillance data to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The objective of this report is to provide an epidemiologic summary of measles activity reported in Canada for the 2015 epidemiologic year.

Methods

Surveillance data: On a weekly basis, measles cases meeting the national case definition ^{Footnote 7} were reported by provinces and territories to PHAC via CMRSS or MARS (n=10 and 3, provinces and territories respectively), including zero-reporting. Non-nominal, non-identifying case data were extracted and submitted to PAHO. Confirmed measles cases with rash onset during the 2015 epidemiologic year (January 4, 2015 to January 2, 2016) were included in this report.

Genotyping: All measles virus genotyping was performed at PHAC’s NML. The World Health Organization (WHO) standardized genotyping: sequencing of 450 nucleotides of the nucleoprotein (N) gene (the N-450), with the addition of the full length haemagglutinin (H) gene ^{Footnote 8} was attempted on all reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) confirmed measles cases. The clinical specimens (respiratory and/or urine) were referred to the NML by provincial laboratories and were RT-PCR-confirmed in the provincial laboratories or at the NML. Measles N-450 and H gene sequences were aligned with WHO genotype reference sequences ^{Footnote 9} and maximum parsimony phylogenetic trees were generated using MEGA6 software ^{Footnote 10}. Genotypes were assigned by maximum homology of the N-450 sequences to the WHO genotype reference sequences ^{Footnote 9}. Sequences were also deposited in the WHO measles nucleotide surveillance database (MeaNS) and compared to so called “named strains” as well as sequences deposited by other members of the global measles laboratory network ^{Footnote 9},^{Footnote 11}.

Data management and validation: Measles surveillance data were managed using Microsoft Access 2010. A data validation process was conducted in March 2016, with the four provinces that reported measles cases in 2015. This included querying for blank fields, identifying illogical field entries and confirming values with reporting jurisdictions.

Analysis: SAS Enterprise Guide 5.1 ^{Footnote 12} was used to perform descriptive epidemiologic analyses, for categorical variables (counts, proportions) and continuous values (medians, ranges). Incidence rates were calculated using Statistics Canada July 1, 2015 population estimates. The distribution of measles cases by demographics (e.g., age, gender, location), risk characteristics (e.g., immunization status, hospitalization, source of exposure) and genotype were assessed. Outbreak characteristics were summarized and surveillance data were evaluated against the essential criteria for the maintenance of measles elimination status, as described by PAHO ^{Footnote 13}.

Immunization status was defined in accordance with the routine, publicly-funded immunization schedule ^{Footnote 14}. Cases that were age-ineligible for routine immunization (i.e., aged less than one year or born before 1970) were classified as up-to-date, regardless of reported status. Those born after 1970 and aged seven years or more were defined as up-to-date with two doses. For those aged one to six years, either one or two doses were defined as up-to-date, depending on the recommended schedule in the reporting jurisdiction.

This routine public health surveillance activity was exempt from research ethics board approval.

Results

Overview

In 2015, the incidence of measles in Canada was 5.5 cases per 1,000,000 population, with a total of 196 reported cases. These data include one case of measles in an international traveller, who was not reflected in the denominator. All cases were either laboratory-confirmed (29.1%, n=57) or epidemiologically linked to a laboratory-confirmed case (70.9%, n=139).

The majority of cases (99.5%, n=195) were reported between epidemiologic weeks 1 and 20, ending January 10 and May 23, 2015, respectively. A maximum of 87 (44.4%) cases were reported during a single week, occurring during an outbreak in Quebec (week 9, ending March 7) (Figure 1).

Age, gender and location

Information on age, gender and reporting province or territory was available for every case reported in 2015. Cases ranged in age from one month to 55 years, with a median age of 13.9 years. The most frequently reported age group was 10 to 14 years (28.1%, n=55), followed by those aged 15 to 19 years (19.9%, n= 39) and five to nine years (17.9%, n=35). Incidence rates were also highest for these groups, at 29.5, 18.6 and 17.9 cases per 1,000,000 population respectively (Table 1). There were no cases reported among those aged 60 years and older. Approximately half of the reported cases (55.1%, n=108) were male. Four Canadian provinces reported measles cases in 2015: British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. Incidence was highest in Quebec, followed by British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario (19.7, 2.3, 1.5 and 1.5 cases per 1,000,000 population respectively).

Table 1: Confirmed measles cases and incidence rates (per 1,000,000 population) by age group, gender and reporting province or territory^{Table 1 - Footnote 1}, Canada, 2015

Age group	M	F	BC	MB	ON	QC	CA	Overall incidence rate
<1 year	2	3	0	1	0	4	5	12.9
1 to 4 years	12	6	0	0	4	14	18	11.6
5 to 9 years	22	13	0	0	0	35	35	17.9
10 to 14 years	30	25	1	0	3	51	55	29.5
15 to 19 years	19	20	7	0	1	31	39	18.6
20 to 24 years	6	9	0	0	4	11	14	5.7
25 to 29 years	3	5	0	0	0	8	8	3.2
30 to 39 years	10	4	2	1	5	6	14	2.9
40 to 59 years	4	3	1Table 1 - Footnote 2	0	3	3	7	0.7
60 years or more	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0
Total	108	88	11	2	20	163	196	5.5
Incidence rate:	6.1	4.9	2.3	1.5	1.5	19.7	5.5	-

Immunization

During 2015, the vast majority of cases (87.8%, n=172) were not up-to-date for age with measles-containing vaccine at the time of infection (Table 2). Similarly, the majority of cases (86.7%, n=170) had never received any documented doses of measles-containing vaccine. Nine cases of measles (five infants aged less than one year, four adults born before 1970) were age-ineligible for measles-containing vaccine, according to the current recommendations for routine immunization by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). These cases were categorized as up-to-date, regardless of reported immunization history. Thus of the 16 cases described as up-to-date, only seven cases (or 3.6% of all reported cases) had previously received measles-containing vaccine.

None of the reported cases were born before 1957, the cut off used in some other countries such as the United States ^{Footnote 15}. One case in 2015 was indicated as having received three doses of measles-containing vaccine. However, the third dose was administered within one week of rash onset and presumably occurred after exposure to measles. Immunization status could not be assessed for 4.1% (n=8) of cases due to missing information.

Table 2: Immunization status of confirmed measles cases, by age group and completeness^{Table 2 - Footnote 1}, Canada, 2015

Age group	Not Immunized		Immunized		Unknown
	Not up-to- date	Up-to-date	Not up-to-date	Up-to-date	Unable to assess	Up-to-date
<1 year	0	5	0	0	0	0
1 to 4 years	17	0	0	1	0	0
5 to 9 years	35	0	0	0	0	0
10 to 14 years	51	0	4	0	0	0
15 to 19 years	33	0	1	4	1	0
20 to 24 years	14	0	0	1	0	0
25 to 29 years	8	0	0	0	0	0
30 to 39 years	5	0	3	1	5	0
40 to 59 years	0	2	1	0	2	2
60 years or more	0	0	0	0	0	0
TOTAL	163	7	9	7	8	2

Hospitalization

Overall in 2015, hospitalization was indicated for 10.7% (n=21) of cases reported (Table 3). The highest number of hospitalizations occurred among those aged 20 to 24 years (n=5, 33.3%). In contrast, the highest proportion of hospitalizations occurred among those aged less than one year, where 60% (n=3) of cases were hospitalized. Almost all hospitalized cases (95.2%, n=20) reported no history of immunization, as most hospitalizations (76.2%, n=16) were linked to an outbreak in Quebec, in a non-immunizing religious community. Importantly, however, it was unknown whether 2.6% (n=5) of cases were hospitalized or not.

Table 3: Hospitalization status of confirmed measles cases by age group, Canada, 2015

		Not hospitalized		Hospitalized		Unknown
Age group	Total	N	%	N	%	N	%
<1 year	5	2	40.0%	3	60.0%	0	0.0%
1 to 4 years	18	18	100.0%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%
5 to 9 years	35	33	94.3%	2	5.7%	0	0.0%
10 to 14 years	55	53	96.4%	1	1.8%	1	1.8%
15 to 19 years	39	32	82.1%	3	7.7%	4	10.3%
20 to 24 years	15	10	66.7%	5	33.3%	0	0.0%
25 to 29 years	8	6	75.0%	2	25.0%	0	0.0%
30 to 39 years	14	11	78.6%	3	21.4%	0	0.0%
40 to 59 years	7	5	71.4%	2	28.6%	0	0.0%
60 years or more	0	0	-	0	-	0	-
Total	196	170	86.7%	21	10.7%	5	2.6%

Molecular epidemiology

In 2015, 28.6% (n=56) of reported measles cases had specimens available for genotyping. However, genotypes were determined for all unique measles events which include outbreaks (n=4) and sporadic cases without secondary transmission (n=6). The genotypes detected were B3 (n=23), D4 (n=17), H1 (n=11) and D8 (n=5) (Figure 2).

Nearly all of the genotype B3 viruses identified were identical to the MVi/Harare.ZWE/38.09 (GenBank JF973033) named strain (n=20) (Figure 3). All of these B3-Harare viruses were detected in measles cases associated with the Quebec outbreak (Appendix), which was linked to a large B3-Harare outbreak in the USA ^{Footnote 17}. Three additional cases had genotype B3 viruses identified. While all three were sporadic, travel-related cases (South Africa, Ethiopia and Tunisia), the two cases with travel history to the African region had identical N-450 sequences (matching the MVs/Kansas.USA/1.12, GenBank JX315576 named strain) (Figure 3). However these measles viruses were distinguishable by H gene sequencing (data not shown).

All genotype D4 viruses identified (n=17) had identical N-450 sequences (Figure 3), which were not identical to any named strain. All were associated with an outbreak in Ontario of unknown origin and for which epidemiological links could not be established between many of the cases (Appendix). Extended sequencing, including the H gene and the MF-NCR (the non-coding region between the matrix and fusion genes) was performed to better characterize this outbreak. A detailed description is forthcoming.

Genotype H1 viruses were identified in 11 measles cases, all of which had either travel history to China, where genotype H1 is endemic ^{Footnote 11} or were linked to cases with travel to China (Appendix). Nine of the viruses were identical to the MVs/Hong Kong.CHN/49.12 named strain (GenBank KC417295) while the remaining two viruses differed by a single nucleotide but were identical to each other (Figure 3).

The remaining measles cases that were genotyped were all identified to be genotype D8 (n=5), four of which did not match any named strains (Figure 3). Two had identical N-450 sequences and were both from the same outbreak associated with travel to India (Appendix). The remaining three cases with genotype D8 viruses were sporadic cases and all had unique N-450 sequences. Two cases had a history of travel, to either India, where genotype D8 is endemic ^{Footnote 11} or neighbouring Pakistan, while the third case was of unknown source. Globally, measles genotype D8 was the second most frequently reported genotype in 2015, based on submissions to the WHO measles nucleotide surveillance database (MeaNS) ^{Footnote 18}.

Canadian measles in the global context

Importations accounted for 4.6% (n=9) of cases in 2015. All imported cases were either adults (aged between 16 and 42 years) who were incompletely immunized for age (n=7), or children too young to be immunized according to the routine schedule (n=2). However, as giving measles-containing vaccine can be considered as early as six months of age when travelling outside of North America ^{Footnote 16}, these two children also represent missed opportunities for immunization.

Imported cases were exposed to measles during travel to most of the WHO regions: South-East Asian (n=2), Western Pacific (n=2), Eastern Mediterranean (n=2), African (n=2) and the Americas (n=1). No importations were reported from the European region. Two importations each were reported from both China and India. One importation per country was reported from Ethiopia, Pakistan, South Africa, Tunisia and the United States.

A total of four outbreaks were reported in 2015, involving 190 cases. The source of exposure for the index case was identified for three of four outbreaks, involving travel to the United States, China and India. The largest outbreak resulted from a single importation from the United States, totalling 159 cases (Appendix). Although the number of cases reported for each outbreak ranged from two to 159 (median: 15), outbreak duration was generally short, with a median of three generations (range: 2 to 6). Genotypes B3, D4, H1 and D8 (n=1, each) were identified. A source of exposure was not identified for 14 cases in 2015, all of which were reported by Ontario. Ten of these cases were described in detail elsewhere ^{Footnote 19}. Only one of these cases resulted in secondary spread (Appendix).

Maintenance of measles elimination

There are four criteria and indicators set out by PAHO, for the ongoing verification of measles elimination (Table 4). Canada met or partially met three of four indicators.

Table 4: Pan American Health Organization essential criteria for the verification of measles elimination

Criterion	Indicator	Description
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.	Zero cases of endemic transmission.	Criterion met. Canada achieved measles elimination status in 1998. Since then, molecular and epidemiological data continue to demonstrate that no viral strain has circulated for a period of one year or more in Canada Footnote 6,Footnote 20,Footnote 21,Footnote 22.
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. As only confirmed cases of measles are nationally notifiable in Canada, this indicator cannot be directly assessed. However, using data obtained by the Measles and Rubella Surveillance (MARS) pilot project, the national rate of measles-like illness investigation was estimated to be between 12 per 100,000 population (2006, non-outbreak year) and 19 per 100,000 population (2011, outbreak year) Footnote 23.
Verify the absence of endemic measles virus strains through viral surveillance.	Measles genotype assessed in 80% of outbreaks.	Criterion met. Genotype information was available for 100% of outbreaks reported in 2015.
Verify adequate immunization in the population.	95% of population cohorts aged 1 to 40 years have received a measles-containing vaccine.	Criterion not met. As a national immunization registry does not currently exist in Canada, this criterion cannot be directly assessed. However, the 2013 Childhood National Immunization Coverage survey estimated first dose measles-containing vaccine coverage among two year olds to be 89.6% and second dose measles-containing vaccine coverage among seven year olds to be 85.5% Footnote 24. This estimate reflects a change in methodology, as opposed to a decline in coverage, from previous years (e.g., 95.2% and 94.9%, 2011 Footnote 25). Note that these are average values; coverage is heterogeneous and will be higher in some areas and lower in others.

Discussion

There were 196 confirmed cases of measles reported in Canada in 2015 originating from all WHO regions except the European Region. The majority of these cases arose from a single importation associated with a popular tourist destination in the United States ^{Footnote 17}. This is the third highest total since elimination was achieved in 1998, following 2011 (n=725) and 2014 (n=418). Similar to 2014, most cases (81.1%, n=159) were in a non-immunizing religious community. Burden was highest among children, especially those aged five to 19 years, but also those aged five years or less. Most hospitalized cases were unimmunized. At least one case from every measles event (i.e., four outbreaks and six sporadic cases) was genotyped, with four genotypes were reported in 2015—B3, D4, H1 and D8. Every measles event was separate, as they all had a viral strain distinct from the others. After each event concluded, none of those viral strains were observed again in 2015. The presence of cases with unknown source suggests that not all cases of measles have been reported, however these were relatively few. All outbreaks were well contained given the median outbreak duration was three generations.

For three of four criteria, Canada continues to meet or partially meet PAHO essential indicators for maintenance of measles elimination. One criterion previously met was not met in 2015: coverage with measles-containing vaccine. This likely reflects a change in methodology for estimating coverage, as opposed to a decrease in actual coverage. Notably, the 2016 federal budget announced $25 million over five years in new investments that will support improving immunization coverage in Canada ^{Footnote 26}.

Globally, measles elimination and eradication continues to be a public health priority, with all WHO regions striving to achieve elimination goals. Three targets for measles eradication were also endorsed at the World Health Assembly in 2010, aimed at increasing immunization coverage with measles-containing vaccine and reducing in morbidity and mortality worldwide by 2015 ^{Footnote 27}. Nevertheless there is still room for improvement, as both the global targets and the elimination goals were not achieved by 2015 ^{Footnote 28}.

Limitations

There are a number of limitations to these data that merit consideration. The indicators of a well-performing surveillance system established by PAHO are based on investigation of measles-like illness (i.e., suspected cases), whereas only confirmed cases are nationally notifiable in Canada. As such, these data can only indirectly address the PAHO criteria. In addition, information on mortality and detailed information on morbidity (e.g., length of hospitalization, sequelae) are not currently captured by CMRSS or MARS, limiting the ability to completely describe the burden of illness due to measles in Canada. Finally, as immunization status is a derived variable that is affected by differences in schedule across jurisdictions, it may be discriminating between individuals on a factor that does not completely describe their risk of being infected with measles.

Conclusion

Both in Canada and abroad, maintaining high immunization coverage with measles-containing vaccine remains a significant public health effort, as well as an essential component of a strategy for achieving and maintaining measles elimination. Although importations and areas of low immunization coverage continue to challenge Canada’s elimination status, surveillance data provided strong evidence that measles elimination has been maintained.

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the continued cooperation and efforts of provincial and territorial surveillance and laboratory partners for providing and validating data captured by CMRSS and MARS, for referring specimens for molecular surveillance (genotyping) and for their review of the report content.

The authors are also grateful to Dr. Alberto Severini, Jennifer Beirnes and Lisa Podhorodecki and NML staff in the Genomics Core Services for their contribution in generating the molecular data.

Conflict of interest

No conflicts of interest to declare.

Funding

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

Appendix: Summary of measles outbreaks in Canada, ordered by earliest date of rash onset, 2015

No.	Province/ Territory	n	Days (Generations)	Genotype	Description
1	QC	159	72Footnote 6	B3– HarareTable 5 - Footnote 1	The index case in this outbreak was exposed to measles during travel to a popular theme park in California, USA. Subsequent spread occurred in the non-immunizing religious community to which the index case belonged. Very few cases were reported outside of the religious community.
2	ON	18	23Footnote 3	D4	The primary case in this outbreak was not identified. Thirteen initial cases across four health units were identified. These cases had no epidemiologic link to each other, or to a known case. However, based on dates of rash onset and genotype results, it is presumed that they shared a common source of exposure. Only one of the cases resulted in secondary spread (to five household contacts).
3	BC	11	19Footnote 2	H1	Two cases of measles were reported among Canadians who were exposed during travel to China. These cases were communicable during the return flight to Canada. One measles case exposed during the flight was a visitor to BC and is not included in BC’s provincial case count. Subsequent spread occurred among other passengers on the flight, or individuals who were epidemiologically linked to the flight.
4	QC	2	14Footnote 2	D8	The index case had a history of travel to India. One secondary case was reported, who was exposed to measles in a health-care setting.