Seroprevalence of measles- and rubella-specific antibodies among military recruits, Canada, 1991.

A study of the seroprevalence of measles- and rubella-specific antibodies among military recruits in Canada in 1991 was undertaken to: 1) determine the proportion of military recruits who are measles and/or rubella seropositive when they enter the military; 2) detect general problems in the immune coverage in the young adult population; and 3) determine the proportion of measles seronegativity attributable to non-response, waning immunity or lack of exposure to either the disease or the vaccine. One initial blood sample was collected from all 399 recruits enrolled in basic training during the month of January 1991, prior to immunization with measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR). Another sample was obtained from 354 of these recruits 3 to 5 weeks following this immunization. Only 18 (4.5%) recruits had negative measles-specific neutralization on the first sample. Only 12 (3.0%) recruits had negative measles-specific EIA on the first sample. All recruits had neutralization titres 40 or higher on the second sample. A total of 43 (10.8%) individuals had negative results for rubella EIA before immunization, 35 of which (81.4%) tested positive on the second sample.