MEASLES OUTBREAK IN NORTHERN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC 3 YEARS AFTER THE LAST NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION CAMPAIGN

Tuesday, 22nd of October 2013

[source]BMC Infectious Diseases[|source]

In this article, the authors report on outbreak response in Central African Republic. The non-selective measles vaccination response is reported to have limited the outbreak mainly to 2 sub-prefectures but did not stop the transmission. The article underlines the importance of pursuing efforts to extend non-selective supplemental immunization response to a larger area around the center of the outbreak. More details are available at:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3599156/

 

Abstract

Background: Despite huge efforts to promote widespread vaccination, measles remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in African children. In March 2011, an abnormally high number of cases were reported from the Ouham Prefecture, Central African Republic to the national measles case-based surveillance system. In response, reactive vaccination activities were implemented. The aims of this study were to investigate this outbreak and describe the response.

Methods: Measles cases were defined according to WHO recommendations. In the first weeks of the outbreak, blood samples were collected and sent to the Institute Pasteur in Bangui for laboratory confirmation by detection of IgM antibodies against measles virus. In addition, a portion of viral RNA was amplified from 5 IgM positive patient samples and the amplicons were sequenced for phylogenetic analysis.

Results: Between March and September 2011, 723 clinical cases originated from the Ouham Prefecture, including 2 deaths, were reported. Amongst 59 blood samples collected, 49 were positive for the detection of IgM. A high number of self-declared vaccinated subjects (31%) were found amongst the cases. Most of the cases were under 5 years. The causative virus was found to belong to genotype B3.1. In response, 2 sub-national supplementary immunization activities were quickly conducted and limited this outbreak to mainly 2 sub-prefectures.

Conclusions: This outbreak was the largest epidemic of measles in CAR since 2002. Its occurrence, 3 years after the last national immunization campaign, highlights the necessity to pursue efforts and improve and extend immunization programs in order to reach measles elimination goal in Africa.