EPIDEMIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF MEASLES INCIDENCE AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN THE CITY OF MOSCOW

  • Authors: Zhuravlev P.1, Kostinov M.P.2,3, Loktionova M.N.3,4, Smirnova O.A.5, Starikova N.L.6
  • Affiliations:
    1. FBUZ Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Moscow Vnukovo airport, Moscow, Russia
    2. Federal State-Funded Institution “Mechnikov research Institute of Vaccines and Sera”, Moscow, Russia
    3. Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russia, Moscow
    4. Federal Budget Institute of Science «Central Research Institute of Epidemiology», Moscow, Russia
    5. FBUZ Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Moscow, Moscow, Russia
    6. State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Mari El 'Yoshkar-Ola Children's City Hospital named after L.I. Sokolova', Yoshkar-Olа, Russia
  • Section: ORIGINAL ARTICLES
  • Submitted: 06.12.2025
  • Accepted: 07.03.2026
  • URL: https://iimmun.ru/iimm/article/view/18082
  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.15789/2220-7619-EFO-18082
  • ID: 18082


Cite item

Full Text

Abstract

Research objective: to study the epidemiological characteristics of measles incidence among medical workers in the city of Moscow. Research methods: retrospective epidemiological analysis. Results. The measles incidence rate among healthcare workers ranged from 2.9 per 100,000 healthcare workers in 2020 to 23.7 per 100,000 healthcare workers in 2024. Analyzing the incidence trends, it is noted that in 2017–2018, the incidence among healthcare workers was 2.1–2.9 times higher than that of in general population, whereas in 2023, the incidence among healthcare workers was half that of the total incidence in Moscow. In the composition of measles cases among healthcare workers, the proportion of those who had been vaccinated once or twice among the infected individuals was 39.8%. The highest percentage of vaccinated individuals among the infected was recorded in 2017–2018 (63.6% and 50%, respectively) and in 2023 (83.3%). The largest age-related proportion of cases is observed among those under 36 years old, accounting for more than half (49.6%) of all cases. When analyzing temporal age-related morbidity pattern among healthcare workers, a noticeable trend toward an increasing proportion of middle-aged and older individuals among affected subjects was found. For instance, in 2017, no measles cases among individuals over 49 years old was recorded, while the proportion of those aged 39-48 was 22%. In 2018, 10% of those affected were employees aged 49-58, and 20% were aged 39-48. In 2023, measles cases were registered among employees over 59 years old (5%), with the proportion of individuals in the 49-58 and 39-48 age groups being 22% and 33%, respectively. Conclusions: At the current stage, the incidence of measles among healthcare workers has several characteristics: a high proportion of vaccinated individuals among the sick (up to 83.3% in specific years), the incidence among healthcare workers under 36 years old is 2.9 times higher than that of among those above 36 years of age, and proportion of older age groups (49-58 years and over 59 years) in the dynamics of incidence tended to increase.

About the authors

Pavel Zhuravlev

FBUZ Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Moscow Vnukovo airport, Moscow, Russia

Email: pvazhurik@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0331-5580

candidate of medical sciences epidemiologist 

Russian Federation, 119027, Moscow, Centralnaya Street, 2B, Building 1

Mikhail P. Kostinov

Federal State-Funded Institution “Mechnikov research Institute of Vaccines and Sera”, Moscow, Russia;
Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russia, Moscow

Email: monolit.96@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-1382-9403

RAS Corresponding Member, PhD, MD (Medicine), Professor, Head of the Laboratory of Vaccine Prophylaxis and Immunotherapy; Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Modern Vaccination Technologies

Russian Federation, 105064, Moscow, Maliy Kazenny per., 5A; 105064, Moscow, Maliy Kazenny per., 5A

M. N. Loktionova

Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russia, Moscow ;
Federal Budget Institute of Science «Central Research Institute of Epidemiology», Moscow, Russia

Email: loktionova_m_n@staff.sechenov.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1865-8882

PhD (Medicine), Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Modern Vaccination Technologies, Senior Researcher, Laboratory of Epidemiology, Senior Researcher, Laboratory of Epidemiology of Natural Focal Infections

Russian Federation, 105064, Moscow, Maliy Kazenny Per., 5A; 105064, Moscow, Maliy Kazenny Per., 5A; 111123, Moscow, Novogireevskaya St., 3a

O. A. Smirnova

FBUZ Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Moscow, Moscow, Russia

Email: incadessence19@rambler.ru

epidemiologist

Russian Federation, 4/9 Grafsky Lane, Moscow, Russian Federation

N. L. Starikova

State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Mari El 'Yoshkar-Ola Children's City Hospital named after L.I. Sokolova', Yoshkar-Olа, Russia

Author for correspondence.
Email: starikova.72@inbox.ru

Chief Medical Officer

Russian Federation, 424004, Volkova Street, 104, Yoshkar-Ola

References

  1. Авдонина Л.Г., Патяшина М.А., Исаева Г.Ш., Решетникова И.Д., Тюрин Ю.А., Куликов С.Н. Коллективный иммунитет к вирусу кори у медицинских работников и студентов медицинских колледжей в Республике Татарстан// Эпидемиология и вакцинопрофилактика. 2019. Т.18, №1. С. 43-49
  2. Avdonina L.G., Patyashina M.A., Isaeva G.Sh., Reshetnikova I.D., Tyurin Y.A., Kulikov S.N. Herd immunity to the measles virus among healthcare workers and medical college students in the Republic of Tatarstan // Epidemiology and Vaccine Prevention. 2019. Vol.18, No.1. Pp. 43-49. DOI: http://doi.org/10.31631/2073-3046-2019-18-1-43-49
  3. Белопольская М.А., Григорьева Т.Д., Аврутин В.Ю., Потанина Д.В., Дмитриев А.В., Яковлев А.А. Напряженность иммунитета к кори в различных группах населения // Журнал инфектологии. 2020. Т.12, №1. С. 80-84 Belopolskaya M.A., Grigoryeva T.D., Avrutin V.Yu., Potanina D.V., Dmitriev A.V., Yakovlev A.A. Measles immunity in different population groups. // Journal Infectology. 2020. Vol.12, No. 1: pp. 80-84 https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=42680449
  4. Брико Н.И., Миндлина А. Я., Галина Н.П., Коршунов В.А., Полибин Р.В. Приверженность различных групп населения иммунопрофилактике: как изменить ситуацию? //Фундаментальная и клиническая медицина. 2019. Т. 4, №.4. С. 8-18. Briko N.I. Mindlina A. Ya., Galina N.P., Korshunov V.A., Polibin R.V. Adherence of various population groups to immunoprophylaxis: how to change the situation? //Fundamental and clinical medicine. 2019. Vol. 4, No. 4. pp. 8-18. https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=43039324
  5. Готвянская Т.П., Ноздрачева А.В., Русакова Е.В., Евсеева Л.Ф., Николаева О.Г., Полонский В.О. Состояние популяционного иммунитета в отношении инфекций, управляемых средствами специфической профилактики, у медицинских работников Бурятии и Тверской области (по материалам Банка сывороток) // Эпидемиология и инфекционные болезни. Актуальные вопросы. 2016. №3. С. 8-16 Gotvyanskaya T.P., Nozdrocheva A.V., Rusakova E.V., Evseeva L.F., Nikolaeva O.G., Polonsky V.O. The state of population immunity regarding infections controlled by specific preventive measures among healthcare workers in Buryatia and the Tver region (based on data from the Serum Bank) // Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases. Current Issues. 2016. No. 3. Pp. 8-16 https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=26436215
  6. Дмитриев А.В., Федина Н.В., Ткаченко Т.Г., Гудков Р.А., Петрова В.И., Заплатников А. Л. ПРИВЕРЖЕННОСТЬ ВАКЦИНОПРОФИЛАКТИКЕ СТУДЕНТОВ МЕДИКОВ И ВРАЧЕЙ ПЕДИАТРОВ В ПЕРИОД ПАНДЕМИИ COVID-19 // МС. 2021. №11. Dmitriev A.V., Fedina N.V., Tkachenko T.G., Gudkov R.A., Petrova V.I., Zaplatnikov A.L. ADHERENCE TO VACCINATION AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS AND PEDIATRICIANS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC // MS. 2021. No.11. https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=46416087
  7. Жердева П.Е., Топтыгина А.П., Ноздрачева А.В., Мамаева Т.А., Новикова Л.И., Смердова М.А., Ярмольская М.С., Дементьева Н.Г., Готвянская Т.П., Семененко А.В. Состояние гуморального иммунитета к вирусам кори, краснухи и эпидемического паротита у здоровых людей и больных корью // Инфекция и иммунитет. 2025. Т. 15, № 4. C. 729–739 doi: 10.15789/2220-7619-TSO-17893
  8. Костинов М.П., Журавлев П.И., Локтионова М.Н., Шмитько А.Д., Полищук В.Б., Татаринчик А.А., Смирнова О.А., Фурсов И.С. Сопоставление напряжённости гуморального иммунитета к кори с заболеваемостью в различных возрастных группах из числа медицинских работников г. Москвы // Вопросы вирусологии. 2022. Т.67, №1. С. 27-36. Kostinov M.P., Zhuravlev P.I., Loktionova M.N., Shmitko A.D., Polishchuk V.B., Tatarinchik A.A., Smirnova O.A., Fursov I.S. Comparison of measles incidence in different age groups with the intensity of specific humoral immunity in healthcare workers in Moscow // Problems of Virology (Voprosy Virusologii). 2022. Vol.67, No. 1: pp. 27-36 (In Russ.). https://virusjour.crie.ru/jour/article/view/592/365/en_US
  9. Костинов М.П., Филатов Н.Н., Журавлев П.И., Гладкова Л.С., Полищук В.Б., Шмитько А.Д., Пахомов Д.В., Хромова Е.А., Васильева Г.В., Тихонова И.А., Рыжов А.А., Благовидов Д.А., Костинова А.М. Уровень коллективного иммунитета к вирусу кори у сотрудников отдельной больницы в рамках государственной программы элиминации кори // Инфекция и иммунитет. 2020. Т. 10, № 1. С. 129–136 Kostinov M.P., Filatov N.N., Zhuravlev P.I., Gladkova L.S., Polischuk V.B., Shmitko A.D., Pakhomov D.V., Khromova E.A., Vasilyeva G.V., Tikhonova I.A., Ryzhov A.A., Blagovidov D.A., Kostinova A.M. Level of measles herd immunity assessed in hospital medical workers within a framework of the state measles elimination program // Russian Journal of Infection and Immunity = Infektsiya i immunitet, 2020. Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 129–136. https://iimmun.ru/iimm/article/view/690/936/en_US
  10. Ноздрачева А.В., Семененко Т.А. Состояние популяционного иммунитета к кори в России: систематический обзор и метаанализ эпидемиологических исследований // Журнал микробиологии, эпидемиологии и иммунобиологии. 2020. Т.97. №5. С. 445–457 Nozdračeva A.V., Semenenko T.A. The state of population immunity to measles in Russia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies // Journal of Microbiology, Epidemiology and Immunobiology. 2020. Vol. 97, No. 5. Pp. 445–457 https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=44155505
  11. О состоянии санитарно-эпидемиологического благополучия населения в РФ в 2023 г. Федеральная служба по надзору в сфере защиты прав потребителей и благополучия человека: Государственный доклад. Москва: 2024. 364 с. On the state of sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population in the Russian Federation in 2023, the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-being: A State report. Moscow: 2024. 364 p. https://www.rospotrebnadzor.ru/upload/iblock/b8a/u6lsxjabw032jkdf837nlaezxu3ue09m/GD_SEB.pdf
  12. О состоянии санитарно-эпидемиологического благополучия населения в РФ в 2024 г. Федеральная служба по надзору в сфере защиты прав потребителей и благополучия человека: Государственный доклад. Москва: 2025. 424 с. On the state of sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population in the Russian Federation in 2024, the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-being: A State report. Moscow: 2025. 424 p. https://www.rospotrebnadzor.ru/upload/iblock/b8a/u6lsxjabw032jkdf837nlaezxu3ue09m/GD_SEB.pdf
  13. Приказ Министерства здравоохранения РФ от 21.03.2014 N 125н "Об утверждении национального календаря профилактических прививок и календаря профилактических прививок по эпидемическим показаниям" (с изменениями и дополнениями) Order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation dated March 21, 2014 No. 125n 'On Approval of the National Immunization Schedule and the Immunization Schedule for Epidemic Indications' (with amendments and additions) https://base.garant.ru/70647158/
  14. Сармометов Е.В., Мокова Н.М., Вольдшмидт Н.Б., Сергевнин В.И., Цвиркун О.В., Метелкина Н.А. Оценка напряженности противокоревого иммунитета у медицинских работников г. Перми // Эпидемиология и вакцинопрофилактика. 2011. №4. С. 45-48. Sarmometov E.V., Mokova N.M., Voldshmidt N.B., Sergevnin V.I., Tsvirkun O.V., Metelkina N.A. Assessment of the intensity of anti-rubella immunity in medical workers of Perm // Epidemiology and Vaccine Prevention. 2011. No. 4. Pp. 45-48. https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=16588332
  15. Симакова Я.В., Гущин В.А., Семененко Т.А., Огаркова Д.А., Клейменов Д.А., Ноздрачева А.В., Мануйлов В.А., Ткачук А.П., Гинцбург А.Л. Оценка популяционного иммунитета к кори, краснухе и эпидемическому паротиту в Москве на современном этапе // Вопросы вирусологии. 2025. Т.70. №2. С.133–146
  16. Simakova Y.V., Gushchin V.A., Semenenko T.A., Ogarkova D.A., Kleimenov D.A., Nozdracheva A.V., Manuylov V.A., Tkachuk A.P., Gintsburg A.L. Assessment of population immunity to measles, rubella, and mumps in Moscow at the present stage // Voprosy Virusologii. 2025. Vol. 70. No. 2. Pp. 133–146 https://elibrary.ru/vhxaqq,
  17. Сутовская Д. В., Пыжьянова П. А., Габдуллина Е.В., Макунц А.А., Кузьменко А.В. ПРИВЕРЖЕННОСТЬ ВАКЦИНАЦИИ МЕДИЦИНСКИХ РАБОТНИКОВ И РАЗЛИЧНЫХ ГРУПП НАСЕЛЕНИЯ // Российский педиатрический журнал. 2023. Т. 26, №3. С. 205-211 Sutovskaya D.V., Pyzhyanova P.A., Gabdullina E.V., Makunts A.A., Kuzmenko A.V. Commitment of health workers and various population groups to vaccination. Russian Pediatric Journal. 2023. Vol. 3, No. 4. pp. 205-211. https://www.rosped.ru/jour/article/view/10
  18. Ткаченко Т.Г., Дмитриев А.В., Гудков Р.А., Федина Н.В. Оценка состояния противокоревого иммунитета у сотрудников детской больницы // Эпидемиология и Вакцинопрофилактика. 2021. Т.20, №4. С.73-78 Tkachenko T.G., Dmitriev A.V., Gudkov R.A., Fedina N.V. Assessment of the measles immunity status among staff of a children's hospital // Epidemiology and Vaccinoprophylaxis. 2021. Vol. 20, No. 4. Pp. 73-78 https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=47375296
  19. Шишова А.В., Жданова Л.А. Русова Т.В., Иванова И.В. Приверженность к вакцинации: взгляд родителей и медицинских работников детских поликлиник (на примере Ивановской области) // Здоровье населения и среда обитания. 2023. Т. 31. №11. С. 42-49. Shishova A.V., Zhdanova L.A., Rusova T.V., Ivanova I.V. Commitment to Vaccination: The Perspective of Parents and Pediatric Clinic Healthcare Workers (Based on the Example of the Ivanovo Region) // Population Health and Environment. 2023. Vol. 31, No. 11. Pp. 42-49. https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/priverzhennost-k-vaktsinatsii-vzglyad-roditeley-i-meditsinskih-rabotnikov-detskih-poliklinik-na-primere-ivanovskoy-oblasti
  20. Bednarczyk R.A., Sundaram M.E. The Continued Risk of Measles Outbreaks in the United States Resulting From Suboptimal Vaccination Coverage //Public Health Reports. 2025. – С. 00333549241306608 - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11699549/
  21. Bolotin S., Osman S., Hughes S. L., Ariyarajah A., Tricco A.C., Khan S. In elimination settings, measles antibodies wane after vaccination but not after infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis //The Journal of infectious diseases. 2022. Vol. 226. №7. P. 1127-1139 - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35417025/
  22. Chen ChihJung C.C., Lee PingIng L.P., Hsieh YuChia H.Y., Chen PoYen C.P., Ho YuHuai H.Y., Chang CheeJen C.C. Waning population immunity to measles in Taiwan //Vaccine. 2012. Vol. 30. №47. P. 6721-6727 - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0264410X12007207
  23. Davidkin I., Jokinen S., Broman M., Leinikki P., Peltola H. Persistence of measles, mumps, and rubella antibodies in an MMR-vaccinated cohort: a 20-year follow-up // The Journal of infectious diseases. 2008. Vol. 197. №7. P. 950-956 - https://web.archive.org/web/20190228080447id_/http://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/889e/b8990cfff3b0236825ddaf9064687dec8e19.pdf
  24. Sim J.Y, Chung J.H., Oh J.Y., Yi J.E., Lee Y.H., Choi S.W. Global Measles Outbreaks //Public Health Weekly Report. 2024. Vol. 17. №34. P. 1432. - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12480071/
  25. WHO. Country slides (measles). Available at:https://immunizationdata.who.int/global?topic=Provisional-measles-and-rubella-data&location= (accessed October 10, 2025) - https://immunizationdata.who.int/global?topic=Provisional-measles-and-rubella-data&location= (accessed October 10, 2025)

Supplementary files

Supplementary Files
Action
1. JATS XML
Download

Copyright (c) Zhuravlev P., Kostinov M.P., Loktionova M.N., Smirnova O.A., Starikova N.L.

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
СМИ зарегистрировано Федеральной службой по надзору в сфере связи, информационных технологий и массовых коммуникаций (Роскомнадзор).
Регистрационный номер и дата принятия решения о регистрации СМИ: серия ПИ № ФС 77 - 64788 от 02.02.2016.