First 5 years of measles elimination in southern Africa: 1996-2000.
Lancet
; 359(9317): 1564-8, 2002 May 04.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-12047966
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Measles is the leading cause of vaccine-preventable death in Africa. Regional measles elimination is considered feasible using current vaccines and a series of WHO-recommended strategies. We aimed to interrupt transmission of measles, and to use case-based surveillance to show the effect of such interruption.METHODS:
In southern Africa from 1996, seven countries with a total population of approximately 70 million and with relatively high routine vaccination coverage implemented measles elimination strategies. In addition to routine measles immunisation at 9 months of age, these included nationwide catch-up campaigns among children aged 9 months to 14 years, then follow-up campaigns every 3-4 years among children aged 9-59 months, and the establishment of case-based measles surveillance with serological diagnostic confirmation.RESULTS:
Nearly 24 million children aged 9 months to 14 years were vaccinated, with overall vaccination coverage of 91%. Reported clinical measles cases declined from 60000 in 1996 to 117 laboratory-confirmed measles cases in 2000. Reported measles deaths declined from 166 in 1996 to zero in 2000. No increase in adverse events was noted after the measles vaccination campaign.CONCLUSION:
A reduction in measles mortality and morbidity can be achieved in very low-income countries, in countries that split their vaccination campaigns by geographical area or by age-group of the target population, and where initial routine measles vaccination coverage among infants was <90%, even when prevalence of HIV/AIDS was extremely high. Continued high-level national commitment will be crucial to implementation and maintenance of proven strategies in southern Africa.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Vacina contra Sarampo
/
Sarampo
Tipo de estudo:
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Humans
/
Infant
País/Região como assunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2002
Tipo de documento:
Article