Herd immunity to measles virus in a population of student nurses and medical students following a widespread outbreak of clinical measles in Ibadan, Nigeria.
Following an outbreak of serologically--and virologically--confirmed measles requiring large-scale hospitalisation of children in Ibadan, Nigeria, the herd immunity to measles virus among medical students and student nurses was determined. Of the 200 students tested, none lacked haemagglutination--inhibiting antibody to measles virus. The titre of HI--antibody ranged from 2(5) to 2(10). Describing a titre of 2(9) as very high, a significantly higher proportion of student nurses than medical students (P < 0.05) had very high antibody titres to measles virus. There was however no statistical difference between the sexes (P > 0.05). Using a commercial Enzyme Immuno Assay kit (EIA), anti measles IgM could not be detected from any of the students. Thus a clear evidence of recent infection with measles virus during the outbreak could not be detected among the students, a probable indication that student nurses and medical students may not participate in the maintenance of wild measles virus within the hospital environment in developing countries like Nigeria.
Forbi
J C
JC
Department of Virology, College of Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Kfutwah
A K
AK
Oyedele
O I
OI
Adu
F D
FD
Odemuyiwa
S O
SO
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D003906:Developing Countries; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007110:Immunity, Active / Q000276:immunology*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology*; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013337:Students, Medical; D013338:Students, Nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007075:Immunoglobulin M