Spotlight on measles 2010: Measles outbreak in a mainly unvaccinated community in Essen, Germany, March – June 2010

On 15 March 2010, a case of measles was reported to the District Health Office in Essen. In total 71 cases occurred from 15 March to 19 May (four cases hospitalised), with the majority linked to a Waldorf school. Only one case had been vaccinated twice, two cases had been vaccinated once. Immediate and consequent exclusion of non-immune children from classes for two weeks as well as the adjacent spring break prevented the wider spread of the virus.