Assessment of the epidemiology and burden of measles in Southern Mozambique.

Abstract

Measles has been a major killer among vaccine-preventable diseases in children < 5 years of age in developing countries. Despite progress in global efforts to reduce mortality, measles remains a public health problem. Hospital-based measles surveillance was conducted in Manhica, Mozambique (July 2001-September 2004). Suspected cases and community-based controls were enrolled, and blood was collected for immunoglobulin M (IgM) confirmation. Two hundred fifty-three suspected cases and 477 controls were enrolled, with 85% (216 of 253) cases reported during a measles outbreak. Measles-IgM confirmation was 30% among suspected cases and 5% in controls. Fifty-eight percent (14 of 24) of laboratory-confirmed cases had records indicating previous measles vaccination. Mortality was 3% (8 of 246) among cases and 1% among controls (6 of 426). Forty-five percent (33 of 74) of cases were < 24 months of age and 22% occurred in infants < 9 months of age and were associated with a high case-fatality rate (25%). Our data suggest that improved diagnostics, new tools to protect infants < 9 months of age, and a supplemental dose of measles vaccine could assist measles control.

• Authors: Inácio Mandomando, Denise Naniche, Marcela F Pasetti, Lilian Cuberos, Sergi Sanz, Xavier Vallès, Betuel Sigauque, Eusébio Macete, Delino Nhalungo, Karen L Kotloff, Myron M Levine, Pedro L Alonso
• Journal: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene (Am J Trop Med Hyg) Vol. 85 Issue 1 Pg. 146-51 (Jul 2011) ISSN: 1476-1645 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21734140 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Measles Vaccine

Topics

• Case-Control Studies
• Disease Outbreaks
• Humans
• Measles (epidemiology, mortality, prevention & control)
• Measles Vaccine (administration & dosage)
• Mozambique (epidemiology)
• Population Surveillance