title: Measles mortality and vaccine efficacy in rural West Africa.
abstract: Measles mortality and measles vaccine efficacy were determined during outbreaks in three Gambian villages. There were 146 cases of measles among 1073 children younger than 11 years. 30% of the children had been vaccinated against measles. The attack rate in unvaccinated children aged 9-47 months was 43% compared with 6% for children of the same age with documented measles vaccination. Vaccine efficacy was 37% for children vaccinated at 6-8 months of age and 89% for children vaccinated at 9 months or older. 5% of measles cases died before the initial investigation of the outbreaks and a further 10% of cases died during the ensuing 9 months. Only 1% of children who did not contract measles died in the 9 months after the outbreaks. Case-fatality rates were highest for measles patients less than 1 year old (64%) and fell with age. Measles remains a significant source of acute and delayed mortality in unvaccinated African populations.
mesh_terms: D000354:Africa, Western; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005714:Gambia; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000592:standards* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012306:Risk; D012423:Rural Health
chemical_list: D008458:Measles Vaccine