Measles Epidemic in Baghdad/Karkh 2009
Measles Epidemic in Baghdad/Karkh 2009
Abstract
ABSTRACTBackground: Measles is a highly infectious disease that causes mortality in both developing and developed countries. Adequately chosen and implemented vaccination strategies not only reduce mortality and morbidity, but also interrupt the transmission of indigenous virus.
Objective: To explore the occurrence and determinants of measles epidemic in Baghdad/ Karkh district during 2009.
Methods: This study was carried out at Karkh Health Directorate during the period from mid June to mid August 2009. The study population included all reported measles cases in the primary health care centers administratively related to Karkh Health Directorate that occurred and registered during the first six months of 2009. Data was obtained by using the registries of measles cases from the preventive department, and vaccine unit in those centers.
Results: A total of 2520 cases of measles was collected and analyzed making an incidence of 86/105. The highest incidence was among the age group below one year 460/105, followed by the 1-4 year age group 340/105, 1362 case (54%) were male and 1158 case (46%) were female with male to female ratio of 1.2:1. The highest number of cases (1039) was reported in Kadhimiya sector with an incidence of 390/105, followed by Mahmoodiyah 324 (200/105), and the least number was in Tarmiya 30 cases (49/105). The majority of recorded cases 1270 (50%) were unvaccinated, 400 cases (15.9%) received one dose of measles vaccine and 294 cases (11.7%) were beyond the age of the first dose.
Conclusion: The epidemic occurred mainly in the age group (below five years) which is an alarming sign regarding the general immune status of the community. Fifteen percent of the cases are of unknown vaccination status indicating a need to health education, and health registry system review. The announced high coverage rates conflict the fact that most cases were unvaccinated, suggesting the need for consolidation of a valid coverage strategy.
Keywords: Measles, Baghdad, Epidemic.
Iraqi Medical Journal Vol. 55, No.1, December 2009; p.7-14
Copyright (c) 2017 Iraqi Medical Journal
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
Under the following terms:
-
Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
-
NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
-
NoDerivatives — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you may not distribute the modified material.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
