Measles in Abakaliki - current status: A need for review of immunization status

Abstract

Background: To highlight the burden of measles infection in Abakaliki and to join in the call for review of vaccination strategies in Nigeria. Methods: Case files of patients admitted with measles into Ebonyi state university teaching hospital, Abakaliki, from January 2001 to December 2005 were reviewed and relevant data collected and analyzed. Results: A total of 2,530 patients were admitted during the period of study, out of which 62 had measles giving a period prevalence of 24 per thousand. Age range was 6 months to 12 years. Prevaccination age group (<9 months) and children above 60 months each constituted 23.0% of the study group. Majority of the patients (61.0%) did not receive measles vaccine while 36.0% had vaccine failure. Bronchopneumonia was the commonest complication encountered (67.0%). Case fatality rate was 12.9%. Conclusion: Morbidity and mortality from measles is still a significant health problem in Abakaliki. Prevaccination age group and children above 5 years are increasingly infected. There is urgent need to increase vaccine coverage and effectiveness if measles control will ever be a reality in Nigeria. A 2-dose measles vaccine policy may help realize this dream.

Keywords

• measles
• immunization
• children