Epidemiology of laboratory confirmed measles virus cases in the southern nations of Ethiopia, 2007–2014

Abstract

BackgroundIn Ethiopia, measles case-based surveillance was introduced in 2004 as one strategy for measles control by laboratory confirmation of suspected cases. In this article, epidemiological distribution of laboratory-confirmed measles cases were reported from the Southern Nation Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopia between 2007 and 2014, as the region is one of the highly measles affected areas in Ethiopia.MethodA serum sample was collected from all measles suspected cases, and patient information was captured by case reporting format (CRF). Samples were transported to the National Measles Laboratory for Measles IgM testing by ELISA technique. Data entry and analysis were done using Epi-Info 3.5.4 software.ResultA total of 4810 samples were tested for measles IgM using ELISA technique and 1507 (31.3%) were found positive during 2007–2014 in SNNPR of Ethiopia. Patients with age 1–4 years were the most affected regardless of sex. The incidence of measles confirmed cases increased from 15 in 2007 to 180 in 2013 per million population. The highest percentage of laboratory-confirmed cases were found in 2014. Measles was found distributed throughout the regional state.ConclusionMeasles was found a public health important disease in SNNPR of Ethiopia, mostly affecting children 1–4 years. The incidence of measles cases is increasing from time to time. Additional research to determine the genotype of circulating measles virus, knowledge, attitude and practice of professionals and the population for measles vaccination and infection in the region is important. A wide age group measles vaccination campaign is highly recommended.

Epidemiology of measles in Oromia region, Ethiopia, 2007-2016

“…Our finding showed 40% of tested samples in this surveillance system had positive results for measles IgM. This result was higher than similar studies done in Ethiopia´s Amhara and Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP) regions [ 28 , 32 ] within a similar timeframe. The number and percentage of positive and negative measles IGM results were observed fluctuating throughout the years.…”

Epidemiology of Measles in Bale Zone Southeast Ethiopia: Analysis of Surveillance Data from 2013 to 2019

“…From 2013-2019 the highest measles prevalence rates were seen in 2015 and 2019 accounted for 21 per 100,000 and 141 per 100,000 populations respectively. The study nding is higher compared to study conducted in Nigeria the incidence was estimated at 19/100,000 population/year (22) and in Ethiopia the incidence was more than 2/100,000 populations/year for ve years (21). The deference is possibly due to high accumulation of susceptible person and outbreak occurs frequently in the zone.…”

HCV Diagnosis and Sequencing Using Dried Blood Spots from Patients in Kinshasa (DRC): A Tool to Achieve WHO 2030 Targets

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