Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40622651›Full record

ArticleJournal of epidemiology and global health2025

Risk Analysis of Measles Outbreaks in Bulgaria and Romania for the Period 2000 to 2023: A Comparative Study.

Ognyan Kounchev, Georgi Simeonov, Zhana Kuncheva, Radka Argirova, Trifon Valkov

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of epidemiology and global health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

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0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Ognyan KounchevInstitute of Mathematics and Informatics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria. kounchev@abv.bg.
Georgi SimeonovInstitute of Mathematics and Informatics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Zhana KunchevabioXcelerate, a Division of Optima Partners, Edinburgh, UK.
Radka ArgirovaDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, Sofia University St Kliment Ohridski Faculty of Medicine, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Trifon ValkovDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Medical University-Sofia Faculty of Medicine, Sofia, Bulgaria. trifon_heim@abv.bg.

Funding

Bulgarian National Science Fund KP-06-N52-1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeMeasles is a highly contagious but vaccine-preventable infectious disease. According to health authorities such as the ECDC (20240, urgent action is required to address the increasing spread of measles and insufficient vaccination coverage across the EU. The main objective of the present research is a comparative analysis of measles outbreak risk in two neighbouring countries with intensive economic relations and similar socio-economic challenges-Bulgaria and Romania. This research aims to deliver results on measles outbreak risk assessment in Bulgaria's neighbouring countries to gain broader insight on the potential threats faced regionally and globally.

methodsData from a 50-year period was collected on immunization coverage and demographic dynamics in Bulgaria and Romania. The main objective of the paper is the calculation of an annual Risk Index defined as the ratio of all susceptible individuals to the total population. A mathematical model is applied to estimate the immunization coverage and demographic parameters on an annual basis. This allows us to calculate with satisfactory precision the accumulation of susceptible persons tracing at least 20 years back in the history, needed for the calculation of an annual Risk Index.

resultsThe Risk Index curves for measles outbreak in Bulgaria and Romania are calculated for the period 2000 to 2023. The Risk Index curve for Bulgaria reveals a concerning increase after 2015, with particularly alarming values projected for 2017 and later. The results of the Risk Index for Romania after 2016 are also concerning. In 2023, the Risk Index for Bulgaria hits 7.55%, whereas in Romania it hits 8.1%.

conclusionComparing the findings from the Risk Index to the real data from measles outbreaks for two neighbouring countries-with similar socio-demographic challenges-shows that the Risk Index is a good indicator for risk of measles outbreak. It can help the health authorities to forecast potential measles outbreaks - alongside vaccination coverage, demographic factors should also be considered when monitoring public health.

Indexed as

Disease OutbreaksMeaslesAdolescentAdultBulgariaChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansInfantMaleMeasles VaccineRisk AssessmentRomaniaVaccination CoverageMeasles VaccineMeaslesOutbreaksRisk indexRisk indicatorVaccination

Identifiers

PMID40622651
PMCPMC12234923

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.