Targeted Measles Outbreak Response Vaccination in the Context of Measles Control and Elimination: Experiences from South Sudan.
Measles continues to cause death and severe complications including pneumonia, croup, encephalitis, blindness and otitis media in children and it remains one of the most important causes of child morbidity and mortality globally. Following an infection, the virus can persist for a long time in the body contributing to the development of lifelong immunity.
South Sudan revitalized measles programme after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005 with a catchup campaign conducted in 2005-2007 recording post campaign evaluation coverage of 74%. The catch-up campaign was followed by Accelerated Child Survival Initiatives (ACSI) in 2009 and a follow-up campaign in 2012 which recorded administrative coverage of 62% and 92% respectively. However, the effectiveness of follow-up campaigns as compared with outbreak responses in reducing the burden of measles in the population remains uncertain. The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the targeted measles outbreak vaccinations currently practiced in South Sudan for measles elimination.
Targeted measles outbreak vaccinations generally reduced the burden of measles however the extent of reduction is more reflected in a year following a mass measles campaign as compared to selective vaccination following measles outbreaks. Thus measles follow-up campaigns are necessary for sustained measles control and elimination.
Strengthening routine immunization and case-based surveillance in South Sudan could results in a marked sustainability of achieving measles elimination targets over time; however, due to the current crisis and associated high displaced populations and weakened health infrastructure, follow-up campaigns could make a significant impact on the population in reducing the disease burden towards the global measles elimination goals.
Epidemiol Open J. 2016; 1(1): 33-39. doi: 10.17140/EPOJ-1-105