Vaccination campaign at a temporary camp for victims of the earthquake in Lorca (Spain)

Abstract

Outbreaks in temporary camps are an important risk for the health of the displaced population. The town of Lorca (Murcia, Spain) suffered 2 earthquakes on May 2011 that required the re-housing of 1,424 victims in a temporary camp. Following 4 cases of chickenpox control measures were adopted among the displaced population. These measures included vaccination against chickenpox; due to the existence of cases of measles in adjacent regions, it was decided to offer measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination as well. The immunization campaign was performed during 2 d (3 to 4 d after the first case). The immunity status of 1,041 (73,1%) of the residents was reviewed. Being vaccinated 523 (67%) against chickenpox and MMR, 133 (17%) against only MMR and 124 (16%) against only chickenpox. We consider the action taken was a success, as only 4 additional cases of chickenpox were subsequently recorded in the campsite, being avoidable only one of them. There is a major risk of outbreaks in a disaster situation. Because of this, conducting preventive actions are indicated to avoid doing worse this critical.

Natural disasters and infectious disease in Europe: a literature review to identify cascading risk pathways

“…Reports were identified from the following countries: Austria; 22 , 31 Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia; 16 Bulgaria; 27 Czech Republic; 21 Denmark; 30 , 34 France; 32 Germany; 20 , 29 Italy; 24 , 26 Poland; 33 , 35 Spain; 25 The Netherlands; 28 Turkey. 23 …”

“…16 , 21 One related to HIV, STI and viral hepatitis, specifically hepatitis A and E, 23 and one related to vaccine-preventable diseases, specifically, chickenpox. 25 One report examined infectious diseases as a whole, 26 one investigated gastrointestinal, influenza-like illness and dermatological complaints 28 and one did not report on the pathogen or disease, 33 so these could not be classified according to type. As the definition of outbreak was inconsistent across studies, an external standardized definition was not used in order to make the study as inclusive as possible.…”

“… 20 As noted above, this review defined whether an outbreak had occurred based on the authors’ reporting, not external classifications. Eight studies related to food- and water-borne diseases and zoonoses and one to vaccine-preventable diseases; 25 two did not specify the pathogen or disease. 26 No deaths were reported in any of the outbreaks.…”

“…One study reported on an outbreak of chickenpox that had already been ongoing prior to an earthquake. 25 In Spain, there had been 163 cases of chickenpox in Lorca in the 8 weeks preceding the earthquake that took place there. Following the earthquake, 1424 people were evacuated to a temporary emergency camp.…”

“…Four cases of chickenpox were identified in the camp, leading to the declaration of an outbreak in the camp and the commencement of a vaccination programme; a further five cases were identified after the outbreak was declared. 25 …”