Measles outbreak in Qassim, Saudi Arabia 2007: epidemiology and evaluation of outbreak response
Open Access
- 20 August 2008
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Journal of Public Health
- Vol. 30 (4), 384-390
- https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdn070
Abstract
Worldwide efforts for measles elimination are made possible due to the availability of a highly effective measles vaccine. In spite of highly vaccinated population, a measles outbreak occurred in Qassim province of Saudi Arabia, during January–August 2007. An outbreak investigation was conducted to describe the epidemiology of outbreak. An audit of performance of control measures taken by the Primary Health Care team was done according to World Health Organization standards. Of 230 cases reported, more than one-third (37.8%) patients were 0–4 years of age. Children aged 6–11 months accounted for 51.7% cases amongst 0–4 years age group. The performance indicator targets of ≥80% for outbreak control measures were achieved regarding investigation of cases within 48 hours, and blood sample extraction within the optimal period. However, 66.8% cases reported within 48 hours of rash onset and only 16.4% of laboratory test results were received within 7 days of receipt of the specimen in laboratory. This outbreak demonstrates the increased susceptibility of unvaccinated children aged 6–11 months. To prevent future outbreaks, community awareness, review of measles vaccination schedule, enhanced surveillance and measles ‘catch-up’ mass immunization campaign to interrupt chains of transmission, are required.Keywords
This publication has 24 references indexed in Scilit:
- Measles in Saudi Arabia: from control to eliminationAnnals of Saudi Medicine, 2005
- Measles Outbreak Epidemiology in the United States, 1993–2001The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2004
- Nonclassic measles infections in an immune population exposed to measles during a college bus tripJournal of Medical Virology, 1998
- The modification in measles vaccination age as a consequence of the earlier decline of transplacentally transferred antimeasles antibodies in Turkish infantsEuropean Journal of Epidemiology, 1996
- A study of maternally derived measles antibody in infants born to naturally infected and vaccinated womenEpidemiology and Infection, 1996
- Decay of maternally derived measles antibody in a highly vaccinated population in southern IsraelThe Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 1995
- Loss of Maternal Measles Antibody during Infancy in an African CityInternational Journal of Epidemiology, 1989
- Measles outbreak in a vaccinated school population: epidemiology, chains of transmission and the role of vaccine failures.American Journal of Public Health, 1987
- Measles Outbreak in a Fully Immunized Secondary-School PopulationThe New England Journal of Medicine, 1987
- Transfer of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Antibodies From Mother to InfantAmerican Journal of Diseases of Children, 1979