Impact of the 1996–1997 supplementary measles vaccination campaigns in South Africa

Special Theme: Infectious Diseases

Impact of the 1996–1997 supplementary measles vaccination campaigns in South Africa

Amra Uzicanin^a,b, Rudi Eggers^c,d, Elize Webb^c, Bernice Harris^e, Dave Durrheim^e, Gboyega Ogunbanjo^e,f, Veronica Isaacs^g, Anthony Hawkridge^g, Robin Biellik^h and Peter Strebel^b

^a Epidemic Intelligence Service, Epidemiology Program Office,
^b National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA.
^c Formerly, Expanded Programme on Immunisation, Department of Health, Pretoria, South Africa.
^d Current affiliation: World Health Organization Office for East Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.
^e Communicable Disease Control, Mpumalanga Department of Health, Nelspruit, South Africa.
^f Department of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, Pretoria, South Africa.
^g Communicable Disease Control, Western Cape Department of Health, Cape Town, South Africa.
^h World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe.

Dr Amra Uzicanin, National Immunization Program, Mailstop E-05, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. E-mail: auzicanin@cdc.gov

Abstract

Background In South Africa, as part of an effort to eliminateindigenous measles by 2002, vaccination campaigns were conductedin 1996–1997 targeting all children aged 9 months to 14years; coverage was estimated at 85%. The impact of the campaignson measles disease burden was evaluated in 1999.

Methods We analysed routine measles surveillance data and undertooka retrospective review of hospital registers in two of South Africa’s nine provinces.

Results In Mpumalanga in the pre-campaign years (1992–1996),4498 measles cases and 6 deaths were reported; 182 cases andno deaths were reported in 1997–1998. Hospital registersshowed 1647 measles hospitalizations and 11 deaths in the pre-campaignperiod, and 60 hospitalizations and no deaths after the campaign(1997–April 1999). In Western Cape in pre-campaign years(1992–1997), 5164 measles cases and 19 deaths were reported;132 cases and no deaths were reported in 1998. Hospital registersshowed 736 measles hospitalizations and 23 deaths in the pre-campaignperiod, and 29 measles hospitalizations and no deaths post-campaign(1998–July 1999).

Conclusions Study findings indicate that reported measles cases,measles-related hospitalizations and deaths were considerably reduced in both provinces after the campaign compared with the pre-campaign period. Longer observation is needed to evaluatethe long-term impact of the campaigns.

Keywords Measles, vaccination, South Africa

Accepted 13 June 2002

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. R Hinman Commentary: Accelerated measles control/measles elimination in southern Africa Int. J. Epidemiol., October 1, 2002; 31(5): 976 - 977. [Full Text] [PDF]

HOME

HELP

FEEDBACK

SUBSCRIPTIONS