title: Epidemiology of laboratory confirmed measles virus cases in the southern nations of Ethiopia, 2007-2014.
abstract: In Ethiopia, measles case-based surveillance was introduced in 2004 as one strategy for measles control by laboratory confirmation of suspected cases. In this article, epidemiological distribution of laboratory-confirmed measles cases were reported from the Southern Nation Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopia between 2007 and 2014, as the region is one of the highly measles affected areas in Ethiopia.
  
  
  
  A serum sample was collected from all measles suspected cases, and patient information was captured by case reporting format (CRF). Samples were transported to the National Measles Laboratory for Measles IgM testing by ELISA technique. Data entry and analysis were done using Epi-Info 3.5.4 software.
  
  
  
  A total of 4810 samples were tested for measles IgM using ELISA technique and 1507 (31.3%) were found positive during 2007-2014 in SNNPR of Ethiopia. Patients with age 1-4 years were the most affected regardless of sex. The incidence of measles confirmed cases increased from 15 in 2007 to 180 in 2013 per million population. The highest percentage of laboratory-confirmed cases were found in 2014. Measles was found distributed throughout the regional state.
  
  
  
  Measles was found a public health important disease in SNNPR of Ethiopia, mostly affecting children 1-4 years. The incidence of measles cases is increasing from time to time. Additional research to determine the genotype of circulating measles virus, knowledge, attitude and practice of professionals and the population for measles vaccination and infection in the region is important. A wide age group measles vaccination campaign is highly recommended.
authors.affiliation: Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Arbegnoch Street, P. O. Box 1242, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. mekonengetahun@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mekonen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Getahun
authors.affiliation: Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Arbegnoch Street, P. O. Box 1242, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Berhane
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Beyene
authors.affiliation: WHO Country Office, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Ayesheshem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ademe
authors.affiliation: Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Arbegnoch Street, P. O. Box 1242, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Birke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Teshome
authors.affiliation: Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Arbegnoch Street, P. O. Box 1242, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Mesfin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tefera
authors.affiliation: Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Arbegnoch Street, P. O. Box 1242, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Aklog
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Afework
authors.affiliation: Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Arbegnoch Street, P. O. Box 1242, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Yoseph
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: HaileMariam
authors.affiliation: Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Arbegnoch Street, P. O. Box 1242, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Esete
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Assefa
authors.affiliation: WHO Country Office, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Yonas
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hailegiorgis
authors.affiliation: Ethiopian Public Health Institute, Arbegnoch Street, P. O. Box 1242, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Anjelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology*; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011634:Public Health; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012984:Software; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D008458:Measles Vaccine
keywords: 2007–2014; Ethiopia; Measles; SNNPR