Seroprevalencia de anticuerpos IgG contra el sarampión en adolescentes y adultos de Lima Metropolitana y Callao, Perú, 2024–2025

Abstract

Objectives. To estimate the seroprevalence of measles IgG antibodies in people aged 15 years or older residing  in Lima Metropolitan and Callao, Peru, through  secondary analysis of serum samples obtained from the  National Institute of Health’s Non-Communicable  Diseases Surveillance between 2024 and 2025. Materials  and methods. A descriptive, population-based, cross- sectional study that included 770 serum samples, in  which the presence of measles IgG antibodies was  determined using a commercial ELISA assay. Global  seroprevalence was estimated and stratified by sex, age  group, and origin. Results. After data expansion, 53.6%  of the studied population corresponded to women. The  global seroprevalence was 82.1% (95% CI: 78.6%–85.1%).  Adults aged 20 to 29 years showed the lowest  seroprevalence (55.6%), followed by adolescents aged 15 to 19 years (72.0%). Seroprevalence progressively  increased with age and exceeded 95% in people aged 50 years or older. No significant differences were observed  by sex or area of origin. Conclusions. Immunity gaps  against measles are evident mainly in young adults, in a  context of disease resurgence in the Americas and an  ongoing outbreak in Peru. These findings highlight the  value of seroprevalence studies to identify susceptible  groups and guide public health interventions, such as  targeted vaccination strategies, strengthening  epidemiological surveillance, and information ampaigns to reduce immunity gaps and contribute to maintaining  measles elimination in Peru.