摘要：Previous state-based serosurveys and recent outbreaks have indicated that young adults may be at risk of measles.To provide a national picture of immunity in adults, we tested 2126 sera from 19-49 year olds that had beenopportunistically collected from laboratories across Australia, between July 1996 and November 1998. Sera werestratified into age groups based on expected levels of immunity. Sample numbers were proportional to thepopulation size in each State and Territory. Immunity was determined using an anti-measles IgG enzymeimmunoassay (EIA) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Results were compared with those on sera from2 groups of 1-18 year olds; one group collected before the Measles Control Campaign (conducted in the second halfof 1998) and the other group collected after the Campaign. Immunity was highest (98.3%) in subjects aged at least30 years (born before 1968) reflecting greater exposure to the measles virus in these older subjects. Immunity waslowest in those aged 1-6 years (born in 1994-8; 83.6%) and 18-22 years (born in 1974-80; 88.9%). The relatively lowlevel of immunity in 18-22 year olds is probably due to lower vaccination coverage in this group compared withyounger cohorts (aged 6-17 years). These results indicate the ongoing need to improve vaccine uptake in infants andsuggest that a vaccination campaign targeting young adults would be beneficial
关键词：measles; immunisation; measles control campaign; young adults
