Epidemiology and clinical characteristics of the Measles outbreak in the Nylon Health District, Douala Cameroon: a retrospective descriptive cross sectional study.
BACKGROUND
Measles is a public health problem especially in South Asia and Africa. Nylon Health District has experienced two measles outbreaks over a period of three years. We hereby describe the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of the outbreak of February 2011.


METHODS
A retrospective descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in November 2011. All suspected measles cases according to the World Health Organization case definition line listed in the district service were included. Data was analyzed using Epi Info version 3.5.3 for Windows and Microsoft Office Excel 2010. An epidemic curve was drawn and proportions per variable category were estimated and presented in frequency tables.


RESULTS
The outbreak started from the 4(th) to the 25(th) epidemiological week of 2011 with a peak on the 10(th) week after onset. The attack and case fatality rates were 34/100000 inhabitants and zero respectively. Females and infants aged 9-59 months represented 97(63.4%) and 75(49%) of cases respectively. Bonadiwoto health area alone had 81(52.9%) of cases. Of the 153 cases, only 34(22.2%) had a card-confirmed measles vaccination status. Active community surveillance permitted the identification of 42(27.5%) cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Low measles vaccine coverage rate over the past years in the Nylon health district led to the accumulation of susceptible individuals which coupled with poor environmental conditions favoured inter-human spread of measles. Developing novel strategies to vaccinate every child, especially the Hard-to-Reach in the slums of the district will help to prevent future outbreaks.
Regional Delegation of Public Health for the Littoral Region, Cameroon.
Gerald Etapelong
GE
Sume
André Arsène Bita
AA
Fouda
Marie
M
Kobela
Salomé
S
Nguelé
Irène
I
Emah
Peter
P
Atem
Daddy
D
Mbida
Kondé
K
Njock
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D032541:Mass Vaccination; D008457:Measles / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011634:Public Health; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
D008458:Measles Vaccine
Cameroon; Measles; Nylon Health District; line listing; outbreak