Conference abstract
Outbreak of measles in Lambu internally displaced person’s camp, Maiduguri, Nigeria, March 2017
Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2018:8(75).09
Apr 2018.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2018.8.75.657
Archived on: 09 Apr 2018
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: Measles, internally displaced persons camp, immune coverage, Nigeria
Opening ceremony
Outbreak of measles in Lambu internally displaced person’s camp, Maiduguri, Nigeria, March 2017
Taiwo Israel Olasoju1,&, Batula Daggash1, Bio Abaye1, Chibuike Enumah1, Salisu Isa1, Muhamed Bolori2
1Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Abuja, Nigeria, 2World Health Organization, Maiduguri, Nigeria
&Corresponding author
Taiwo Israel Olasoju, Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria
Introduction: measles is a highly infectious disease caused by measles virus. In Nigeria, children are vaccinated against measles at the age of 9 months, and this has led to a significant reduction in morbidity and mortality. Despite this, Nigeria still ranks top among countries with endemic and uninterrupted transmission of measles infection yearly in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2011 alone, 18,843 measles cases were reported in the country. The study was done to confirm the existence of the outbreak, characterize the outbreak in terms of place, person and time and to identify the risk factors for the outbreak.
Methods: we conducted an unmatched case control study among children living in Lambu IDP Camp. We used pre-tested interviewer- administered structured questionnaire (78 in total) to collect information on demographic characteristics, socio-economic status, educational status and potential risk factors. We also did active case search in health facilities close to the Camp. Epidemic curve was drawn, odds ratio/ relative risks were also calculated at 95% confidence intervals using Epi info version 7.2. We also collected specimens from five cases and sent them to laboratory.
Results: the first case was a 12-month-old girl. A total of 28 cases were recorded and the outbreak spanned over a period of about 3 weeks with multiple peaks during this period between February 13, 2017 and March 7, 2017. Median age was 48 months with age range of 6 to 180 months. 3 deaths were recorded (Case Fatality Rate, CFR 10.7%). Eighteen (64.3%) cases were within 12 - 59 months of age, 6 (21%) cases were within 5 - 9 years. Two (66.7%) deaths were under 5 years of age. Attack Rate (AR) was 4%. First mortality occurred on March 2, 2017. Leje ward recorded the highest number of cases (25), while Shamuri ward had the lowest figure.
Conclusion: the infection was introduced to the IDP camp by children with low or zero immunization coverage from hard to reach settlements. Reactive vaccination was administered to the children. We also did community sensitization.
