Analysing the characteristics of a measles outbreak in Houaphanh province to guide measles elimination in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Introduction: In recent years, the incidence of measles has declined in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. However, an outbreak was reported in August 2014 in Houaphanh province, which was the biggest outbreak in the country since 2008. We describe the characteristics of this outbreak and outline...
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2018-09-01
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doaj-2972f09046fd4f99a47b3bd2f91a55942021-03-02T07:01:44ZengWorld Health Organization Regional Office for the Western PacificWestern Pacific Surveillance and Response2094-73212094-73132018-09-019391510.5365/wpsar.2017.8.1.012Analysing the characteristics of a measles outbreak in Houaphanh province to guide measles elimination in the Lao People’s Democratic RepublicBounthanom Sengkeopraseuth0Bouaphanh Khamphaphongphane1Phengta Vongphrachanh2Anonh Xeuatvongsa3Sisouveth Norasingh4Chansay Pathammvong5Manilay Phengxay6Phanmanisone Philakong7Siddhartha Sankar Datta8Lao People’s Democratic Republic Field Epidemiology Training Programme; National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology, Lao People’s Democratic Republic.National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology, Lao People’s Democratic Republic.National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology, Lao People’s Democratic Republic.National Immunization Programme, Lao People’s Democratic Republic.National Immunization Programme, Lao People’s Democratic Republic.National Immunization Programme, Lao People’s Democratic Republic.World Health Organization, Lao People’s Democratic Republic.World Health Organization, Lao People’s Democratic Republic.World Health Organization, Lao People’s Democratic Republic.Introduction: In recent years, the incidence of measles has declined in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. However, an outbreak was reported in August 2014 in Houaphanh province, which was the biggest outbreak in the country since 2008. We describe the characteristics of this outbreak and outline critical interventions for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to achieve measles elimination. Methods: Fever and rash cases in the Khouan and Samtai districts with an onset date from 1 September to 25 October 2014 were investigated. Active case finding and health facility record reviews were carried out. Appropriate samples from the individuals with suspected measles were tested to confirm the diagnosis. Results: A total of 265 suspected cases including 12 deaths were reported from eight villages in the Khouan and Samtai districts. Forty-five individuals tested positive for measles IgM. Most of the confirmed patients were male (n = 28, 62%), less than 5 years old (n = 23, 51%) and from the Hmong ethnic community (n = 44, 98%). The majority of the people with suspected measles (n = 213, 80%) and all the confirmed ones were unvaccinated. A measles vaccination campaign conducted in the eight affected villages resulted in 76% coverage of the targeted population. Discussion: Low routine coverage and measles occurrence among unvaccinated individuals indicate underimmunized areas. The geographical and sociodemographic characteristics of this outbreak highlight the need for tailored vaccination strategies to close the immunity gap. A sensitive surveillance system that is able to detect, notify, investigate and guide response measures, including a second measles dose in the routine immunization schedule, will be essential for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to attain its measles elimination status.https://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/537/831measlesoutbreakeliminationvaccinesLao PDR |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Bounthanom Sengkeopraseuth Bouaphanh Khamphaphongphane Phengta Vongphrachanh Anonh Xeuatvongsa Sisouveth Norasingh Chansay Pathammvong Manilay Phengxay Phanmanisone Philakong Siddhartha Sankar Datta |
spellingShingle |
Bounthanom Sengkeopraseuth Bouaphanh Khamphaphongphane Phengta Vongphrachanh Anonh Xeuatvongsa Sisouveth Norasingh Chansay Pathammvong Manilay Phengxay Phanmanisone Philakong Siddhartha Sankar Datta Analysing the characteristics of a measles outbreak in Houaphanh province to guide measles elimination in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Western Pacific Surveillance and Response measles outbreak elimination vaccines Lao PDR |
author_facet |
Bounthanom Sengkeopraseuth Bouaphanh Khamphaphongphane Phengta Vongphrachanh Anonh Xeuatvongsa Sisouveth Norasingh Chansay Pathammvong Manilay Phengxay Phanmanisone Philakong Siddhartha Sankar Datta |
author_sort |
Bounthanom Sengkeopraseuth |
title |
Analysing the characteristics of a measles outbreak in Houaphanh province to guide measles elimination in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic |
title_short |
Analysing the characteristics of a measles outbreak in Houaphanh province to guide measles elimination in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic |
title_full |
Analysing the characteristics of a measles outbreak in Houaphanh province to guide measles elimination in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic |
title_fullStr |
Analysing the characteristics of a measles outbreak in Houaphanh province to guide measles elimination in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic |
title_full_unstemmed |
Analysing the characteristics of a measles outbreak in Houaphanh province to guide measles elimination in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic |
title_sort |
analysing the characteristics of a measles outbreak in houaphanh province to guide measles elimination in the lao people’s democratic republic |
publisher |
World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific |
series |
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response |
issn |
2094-7321 2094-7313 |
publishDate |
2018-09-01 |
description |
Introduction: In recent years, the incidence of measles has declined in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. However, an outbreak was reported in August 2014 in Houaphanh province, which was the biggest outbreak in the country since 2008. We describe the characteristics of this outbreak and outline critical interventions for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to achieve measles elimination.
Methods: Fever and rash cases in the Khouan and Samtai districts with an onset date from 1 September to 25 October 2014 were investigated. Active case finding and health facility record reviews were carried out. Appropriate samples from the individuals with suspected measles were tested to confirm the diagnosis.
Results: A total of 265 suspected cases including 12 deaths were reported from eight villages in the Khouan and Samtai districts. Forty-five individuals tested positive for measles IgM. Most of the confirmed patients were male (n = 28, 62%), less than 5 years old (n = 23, 51%) and from the Hmong ethnic community (n = 44, 98%). The majority of the people with suspected measles (n = 213, 80%) and all the confirmed ones were unvaccinated. A measles vaccination campaign conducted in the eight affected villages resulted in 76% coverage of the targeted population.
Discussion: Low routine coverage and measles occurrence among unvaccinated individuals indicate underimmunized areas. The geographical and sociodemographic characteristics of this outbreak highlight the need for tailored vaccination strategies to close the immunity gap. A sensitive surveillance system that is able to detect, notify, investigate and guide response measures, including a second measles dose in the routine immunization schedule, will be essential for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to attain its measles elimination status. |
topic |
measles outbreak elimination vaccines Lao PDR |
url |
https://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/537/831 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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