Objective  To analyze epidemiological characteristics and influencing factors of measles among adult residents in Dalian city of Liaoning province and to provide evidences for measles elimination.

  Methods  We collected data on measles cases aged ≥ 15 years and reported during 2014 and recruited age and incidence time matched (1 : 1) controls with diseases other than measles and rubella in Dalian city. Differences in residence, census register, travelling history, and histories of taking medical service, related exposure, and immunization were compared between the cases and the controls.

  Results  A total of 113 adult measles cases were reported, accounting for 37.42% of all the cases reported in the city during the year. The majority of the cases were the residents aged 25 – 34 years, living in urban-rural fringe areas, and having the incidence between April and May. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that the risk factors for the incidence of measles included living in urban-rural fringe area (odds ratio OR= 1.623, 95% confidence interval 95% CI: 1.099 – 2.396), with no local census register (OR = 3.148, 95% CI: 1.550 – 6.393), travelling history (OR = 3.468, 95% CI: 1.015 – 11.856), history of seeking medical service (OR = 10.307, 95%CI: 2.854 – 37.228), and the history of contacting with a measles patient (OR = 10.236, 95% CI: 1.992 – 52.601); while, with the history of measles vaccine inoculation was a protective factor (OR = 0.107, 95% CI: 0.023 – 0.505).

  Conclusion  The risk factors for measles incidence are the history of contacting with a measles patient, histories of seeking medical service and travelling, without local census register, and residing in an urban-rural fringe area and having measles vaccine inoculation is a protective factor for adult residents in Dalian city.