Impact of nationwide measles vaccination campaign among children aged 9 months to 14 years, Zimbabwe, 1998-2001.
Zimbabwe (population 11,365,000) introduced nationwide one-dose measles vaccination in 1981. This strategy reached 70%-80% of infants <1 year of age over the next two decades; in 1998, a nationwide supplemental immunization activity (SIA) targeting all children aged 9 months to 14 years achieved 93% coverage. Surveillance data were examined to determine the impact of these strategies. During 1985-1997, there were 8529-49,812 measles cases annually. After the SIA, laboratory confirmation of the first 5 outbreak cases and all sporadic cases was required. In 1999 and 2000, 1343 (88%) of 1534 suspected cases had adequate specimens submitted and 28 (2%) were measles IgM positive. In 2001, of 529 suspected cases, 513 (97%) had adequate specimens and only 7 (1%) were measles IgM positive. These data suggest that indigenous measles transmission in Zimbabwe has been interrupted and that high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus seropositivity does not hinder vaccination-induced measles control. High vaccination coverage obtained through the routine health care system supplemented by periodic follow-up SIAs will be required to maintain low transmission levels.
Expanded Program on Immunization, Disease Surveillance, Office of the World Health Organization Representative to Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.
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D000293:Adolescent; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D032541:Mass Vaccination / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D008458:Measles Vaccine