International Journal of Infectious Diseases (Feb 2024)
Trends of measles in Tanzania: A 5-year review of case-based surveillance data, 2018-2022
- Fausta Michael,
- Mariam M. Mirambo,
- Gerald Misinzo,
- Omary Minzi,
- Medard Beyanga,
- Delphinus Mujuni,
- Florence S. Kalabamu,
- Elias N. Nyanda,
- Mary Mwanyika-Sando,
- Daniel Ndiyo,
- Richard Kasonogo,
- Abbas Ismail,
- Andrew Bahati,
- Farida Hassan,
- Eliangiringa Kaale,
- John J. Chai,
- Pricillah Kinyunyi,
- Furaha Kyesi,
- Florian Tinuga,
- Dhamira Mongi,
- Abdul Salehe,
- Bonaventura Muhindi,
- Joseph Mdachi,
- Richard Magodi,
- Mwendwa Mwenesi,
- Honest Nyaki,
- Betina Katembo,
- Kelvin Tenga,
- Magdalena Kasya,
- Willliam Mwengee,
- Stephen E. Mshana
Affiliations
- Fausta Michael
- Immunization and Vaccine Development Program, Ministry of Health, Dodoma, Tanzania
- Mariam M. Mirambo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania
- Gerald Misinzo
- OR Tambo Africa Research Chair for Viral Epidemics, SACIDS Foundation for One Health, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
- Omary Minzi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Medard Beyanga
- National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Delphinus Mujuni
- Immunization and Vaccine Development Program, Ministry of Health, Dodoma, Tanzania
- Florence S. Kalabamu
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Hubert Kairuki Memorial University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Elias N. Nyanda
- Mbeya Medical Research Centre, National Institute for Medical Research, Mbeya, Tanzania
- Mary Mwanyika-Sando
- Africa Academy for Public Health, Mikocheni, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Daniel Ndiyo
- Directorate of Regulatory Services, Government Chemist Laboratory Authority, Dodoma, Tanzania
- Richard Kasonogo
- Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority, Ministry of Health, Dodoma, Tanzania
- Abbas Ismail
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania
- Andrew Bahati
- Immunization and Vaccine Development Program, Ministry of Health, Dodoma, Tanzania
- Farida Hassan
- Health System, Impact Evaluation and Policy, Ifakara Health Institute, Ifakara, Tanzania
- Eliangiringa Kaale
- Pharm R&D Lab and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- John J. Chai
- District Court of Kwimba, Judiciary of Tanzania, Ngudu, Tanzania
- Pricillah Kinyunyi
- Immunization and Vaccine Development Program, Ministry of Health, Dodoma, Tanzania
- Furaha Kyesi
- Immunization and Vaccine Development Program, Ministry of Health, Dodoma, Tanzania
- Florian Tinuga
- Immunization and Vaccine Development Program, Ministry of Health, Dodoma, Tanzania
- Dhamira Mongi
- Immunization and Vaccine Development Program, Ministry of Health, Dodoma, Tanzania
- Abdul Salehe
- Immunization and Vaccine Development Program, Ministry of Health, Mnazimmoja, Zanzibar
- Bonaventura Muhindi
- Immunization and Vaccine Development Program, Ministry of Health, Dodoma, Tanzania
- Joseph Mdachi
- Immunization and Vaccine Development Program, Ministry of Health, Dodoma, Tanzania
- Richard Magodi
- Immunization and Vaccine Development Program, Ministry of Health, Dodoma, Tanzania
- Mwendwa Mwenesi
- Immunization and Vaccine Development Program, Ministry of Health, Dodoma, Tanzania
- Honest Nyaki
- Immunization and Vaccine Development Program, Ministry of Health, Dodoma, Tanzania
- Betina Katembo
- National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Kelvin Tenga
- National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Magdalena Kasya
- National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Willliam Mwengee
- World Health Organization, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Stephen E. Mshana
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania; Corresponding author: Tel: +255753527900
- Journal volume & issue
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Vol. 139
pp. 176 – 182
Abstract
Objectives: Tanzania observed a gradual increase in the number of measles cases since 2019 with a large outbreak recorded during 2022. This study describes the trend of measles in Tanzania over a 5-year period from 2018-2022. Methods: This was a descriptive study conducted using routine measles case-based surveillance system including 195 councils of the United Republic of Tanzania. Results: Between 2018 and 2022 there were 12,253 measles cases reported. Out of 10,691 (87.25%) samples tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, 903 (8.4%) were measles immunoglobulin M positive. The highest number of laboratory-confirmed measles cases was in 2022 (64.8%), followed by 2020 (13.8%), and 2019 (13.5%). Out of 1279 unvaccinated cases, 213 (16.7%) were laboratory-confirmed measles cases compared to 77/723 (10.6%) who were partially vaccinated and 71/1121 (6.3%) who were fully vaccinated (P 90% since 2013 while MCV2 increased gradually reaching 88% in 2022. Conclusions: Accumulation of susceptible children to measles due to suboptimal measles vaccination coverage over the years has resulted in an increase in the number of laboratory-confirmed measles cases in Tanzania with more cases recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic. Strengthening surveillance, routine immunization, and targeted strategies are key to achieving the immunity levels required to interrupt measles outbreaks.
