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Measles outbreak in a vaccinated population in Dhankutta

Nilambar Jha1, Javed Khan, Rajiniti Prasad

  • 1Department of Community,Medicine, B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal.

Nepal Medical College Journal : NMCJ
|April 6, 2006
PubMed

Insights

A measles outbreak in Dhankutta saw 130 cases, with many severe. Unusually, half were over 10 years old, and all had been vaccinated, prompting vaccine efficacy and cold chain investigations.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • Measles outbreaks pose significant public health challenges, particularly in developing nations.
  • Understanding outbreak dynamics, including age distribution and vaccination status, is crucial for effective control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate a measles outbreak in Dhankutta town.
  • To analyze the clinical characteristics, age distribution, and vaccination history of measles cases.
  • To identify potential factors contributing to the outbreak's unusual trends.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective case review of 130 measles patients registered at Dhankutta District Hospital.
  • Analysis of patient demographics, disease severity, complications, and vaccination history.

Main Results:

  • A 3-month measles outbreak (2056 Falgun–2057 Baishak) involved 130 cases, with a high proportion experiencing severe disease and hospital admission.
  • No fatalities were recorded among hospitalized patients.
  • A notable finding was that 50% of cases were in individuals aged 10 years and above, an atypical trend for developing countries.
  • All documented cases reported a history of measles vaccination.

Conclusions:

  • The measles outbreak in Dhankutta exhibited unusual epidemiological features, including a higher proportion of older children and adolescents affected.
  • The high vaccination coverage among cases suggests a potential need to reassess measles vaccine efficacy and the integrity of the cold chain logistics.
  • Further investigation into vaccine performance and cold chain management is warranted to prevent future outbreaks.

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