MEASLES CONTROL EFFORTS IN URBAN AFRICA COMPLICATED BY HIGH INCIDENCE OF MEASLES IN THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE

• Published in: American journal of epidemiology 1988-04, Vol.127 (4), p.788-794
• Main Authors: TAYLOR, WILLIAM R, RUTI-KALISA, MA-DISU, MAMBU, WEINMAN, JOANNE M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age Factors; Biological and medical sciences; Child, Preschool; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Human viral diseases; Humans; immunity; Infant; Infectious diseases; measles; Measles - epidemiology; Measles - prevention & control; Measles - transmission; measles vaccine; Measles Vaccine - administration & dosage; measles virus; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Tropical medicine; vaccination; Viral diseases; Viral diseases with cutaneous or mucosal lesions and viral diseases of the eye
• ISSN: 0002-9262; 1476-6256
• DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a114860

A measles vaccination coverage of between 50 and 60% has been achieved in Kinshasa, Zaire, from 1980–1985. During that interval, the annual number of measles cases and the incidence rate of measles reported by a surveillance system remained similar, and measles epidemics occurred in alternating years. The estimated number of measles cases in Kinshasa is 87,600 per year. Of reported measles cases, 27% occurred in children under nine months of age, younger than the recommended age at vaccination. Two results expected in a partially vaccinated population, a reduction in measles incidence greater than the level of vaccination coverage and a shift in the age distribution of measles to older children, have not been observed. Measles control in Kinshasa will require a vaccination coverage of higher than 60%. In addition, given the age-specific risk of measles infection here, a measies vaccine that would be effective when given before nine months of age would be an important element in controlling measles transmission. Because the epidemiology of measles in Kinshasa is a likely consequence of its urban environment, such a vaccine would represent a significant advance toward the control of measles in urban Africa.