Measles outbreak in Ibadan: clinical, serological and virological identification of affected children in selected hospitals.

ABSTRACT

PIP: A combination of clinical, serological, and virological methods were used to identify affected hospitalized children during a measles outbreak in Ibadan, Nigeria, in 1996. A total of 25 cases of clinical measles were detected at the 4 hospitals visited, comprising 15% of total pediatric admissions during the study period. 13 of the children had been immunized for measles. In 5 cases, the affected children were 6-8 months of age (younger than the recommended vaccination time in Nigeria). Clinical symptoms included fever, rash, cough, and conjunctivitis. 6 (50%) of the immunized children with measles and 11 (80%) of nonimmunized children had complications such as bronchopneumonia. During the acute phase of illness, the geometric mean antibody titre was 18 among vaccinees and 17 among non-vaccinees. The solid phase immunosorbent test revealed IgM in all sera, indicating recent infection. The finding that more than half of children with measles had been immunized is presumed to reflect the poor quality (i.e., low potency) and short supply of measles vaccine in 1995. An aggressive political effort is required to ensure an adequate measles vaccine supply and quality in Nigeria.