TY - JOUR AU - Khetsuriani, Nino AU - Sanadze, Ketevan AU - Chlikadze, Rusudan AU - Chitadze, Nazibrola AU - Dolakidze, Tamar AU - Komakhidze, Tamta AU - Jabidze, Lia AU - Huseynov, Shahin AU - Ben Mamou, Myriam AU - Muller, Claude AU - Zakhashvili, Khatuna AU - Hübschen, Judith T1 - Challenges to Achieving Measles Elimination, Georgia, 2013–2018 T2 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal PY - 2020 VL - 26 IS - 11 SP - 2565 SN - 1080-6059 AB - Controlling measles outbreaks in the country of Georgia and throughout Europe is crucial for achieving the measles elimination goal for the World Health Organization’s European Region. However, large-scale measles outbreaks occurred in Georgia during 2013–2015 and 2017–2018. The epidemiology of these outbreaks indicates widespread circulation and genetic diversity of measles viruses and reveals persistent gaps in population immunity across a wide age range that have not been sufficiently addressed thus far. Historic problems and recent challenges with the immunization program contributed to outbreaks. Addressing population susceptibility across all age groups is needed urgently. However, conducting large-scale mass immunization campaigns under the current health system is not feasible, so more selective response strategies are being implemented. Lessons from the measles outbreaks in Georgia could be useful for other countries that have immunization programs facing challenges related to health-system transitions and the presence of age cohorts with historically low immunization coverage. KW - measles KW - measles elimination KW - measles epidemiology KW - measles virus KW - measles virus genetics KW - Georgia KW - European Region KW - vaccine-preventable diseases KW - viruses DO - 10.3201/eid2611.200259 UR - https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/11/20-0259_article ER - End of Reference