Measles, rubella, mumps and diphtheria нerd immunity in the population of the some Kherson’s region districts

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Abstract

Introduction. Specific prevention of vaccine-preventable infections (VPIs) has been the main prerequisite to radically lower their incidence in the Russian Federation. Since the Kherson Region joined the Russian Federation in 2024–2025, no VPI cases have been recorded, likely due to the level of herd immunity. The actual number of individuals immune to VPIs can only be estimated through serologically monitored herd immunity. Study objective was to assess herd immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, and diphtheria in specific Kherson Region districts. Materials and methods. The study involved 2.807 volunteers in seven municipal districts, aged 1 to 70+ years. A volunteer cohort, stratified by age (1–5, 6–11, 12–17, 18–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, ≥ 70), was randomized using the Web application. During the study, participants completed a questionnaire, IgG antibodies to specific agents (measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria toxin) were measured in venous blood samples using ELISA test kits (Russia). Results. The average cohort seroprevalence for measles, rubella, mumps, and diphtheria among volunteers in the region were 83.4%, 95.1%, 65.7%, and 83.4%, respectively. Adults aged 18–29 years were the least protected against measles, rubella, and mumps, with the seropositivity: < 70% for measles; 84.5% for rubella; and 44.6% for mumps. The most protected were people aged ≥ 50 years: 91.5–99.4% for measles; > 98% for rubella; and 74.5–87.1% for mumps. People over 60 were the least protected against diphtheria (63.8–76.5%). In children’s groups, maximum seroprevalence was noted in the group aged 6–11 years: 90.8% for measles; > 96.9% for rubella; 64.6% for mumps; and 90.4% for diphtheria. Most volunteers had low to moderate anti-measles and anti-diphtheria toxin IgG levels; and high anti-rubella IgG levels. The seropositivity of “naive” volunteers (those denying infection or vaccination) indicates insufficient laboratory VPI diagnostics in the Kherson Region. Conclusion. The level of herd immunity in the surveyed areas (Kherson Region) met the criterion for epidemiological well-being only with regard to rubella. Specifically, the percentage of seronegative individuals was below 10%. Insufficient seroprevalence for the measles and mumps viruses, as well as the C. diphtheriae, reflects conditions conducive for the spread of these infections among the population.

About the authors

A. Yu. Popova

Federal Service for Surveillance of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing

Email: vssmi@mail.ru

DSc (Medicine), Professor, Head

Russian Federation, Moscow

Vyacheslav S. Smirnov

St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute

Author for correspondence.
Email: vssmi@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-2723-1496

DSc (Medicine), Professor, Leading Researcher, Laboratory of Molecular Immunology

Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

S. A. Egorova

St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute

Email: vssmi@mail.ru

DSc (Medicine), Deputy Director for Innovation

Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

A. M. Milichkina

St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute

Email: vssmi@mail.ru

PhD (Medicine), Head Physician of the Medical Center 

Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

V. M. Turov

Rospotrebnadzor Office for Kherson Oblast

Email: vssmi@mail.ru

Head of the Rospotrebnadzor Office

Russian Federation, Kherson

I. V. Drozd

St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute

Email: vssmi@mail.ru

PhD (Biology), Head of the Central Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory

Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

Z. V. Vasilyeva

Rospotrebnadzor Office for Kherson Oblast

Email: vssmi@mail.ru

Head of the Department

Russian Federation, Kherson

O. B. Zhimbaeva

St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute

Email: vssmi@mail.ru

Head of the Laboratory of Molecular Genetic Diagnostics of the Medical Center

Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

A. V. Gubanova

St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute

Email: vssmi@mail.ru

Doctor of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Central Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory

Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

L. V. Buts

St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute

Email: vssmi@mail.ru

PhD (Medicine), 1st Category Specialist

Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

N. N. Zotkin

St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute

Email: vssmi@mail.ru

Research Laboratory Assistant, Medical Center 

Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

T. V. Arbuzova

St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute

Email: vssmi@mail.ru

Junior Researcher, Epidemiological Monitoring and Forecasting Group

Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

O. I. Demidyuk

Ministry of Health of Kherson Oblast

Email: vssmi@mail.ru

Deputy Minister of Health

Russian Federation, Kherson

V. A. Ivanov

St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute

Email: vssmi@mail.ru

IT analyst

Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

G. B. Dymchenko

Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Kherson Oblast

Email: vssmi@mail.ru

Head Physician

Russian Federation, Kherson

A. A. Totolian

St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute

Email: vssmi@mail.ru

RAS Full Member, DSc (Medicine), Professor, Head at the Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Director

Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

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Copyright (c) 2025 Popova A.Y., Smirnov V.S., Egorova S.A., Milichkina A.M., Turov V.M., Drozd I.V., Vasilyeva Z.V., Zhimbaeva O.B., Gubanova A.V., Buts L.V., Zotkin N.N., Arbuzova T.V., Demidyuk O.I., Ivanov V.A., Dymchenko G.B., Totolian A.A.

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