Measles Outbreak Investigation in Nomadic Population Nasirabad, Balochistan, Pakistan February 2018
Introduction: On 14 February 2018, the District Health Officer of Nasirabad reported 16 suspected measles cases from the nomadic population of Dera Murad Jamali to the disease surveillance and response unit of Quetta and requested an investigation. A FELTP fellow was deputed by the Director of Gener...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of New South Wales
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Global Biosecurity |
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| Online Access: | https://jglobalbiosecurity.com/articles/70 |
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| author | Zubair Ahmed Abid Saeed Ehsan Ahmed Qurat ul Ain Barkat Hussain Saher Sultan Khair Muhammad Tamken Ghafoor Mirza Amir Baig |
| author_facet | Zubair Ahmed Abid Saeed Ehsan Ahmed Qurat ul Ain Barkat Hussain Saher Sultan Khair Muhammad Tamken Ghafoor Mirza Amir Baig |
| author_sort | Zubair Ahmed |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: On 14 February 2018, the District Health Officer of Nasirabad reported 16 suspected measles cases from the nomadic population of Dera Murad Jamali to the disease surveillance and response unit of Quetta and requested an investigation. A FELTP fellow was deputed by the Director of General Health Services, Balochistan to investigate the outbreak, evaluate risk factors and recommend control measures. Methodology: A purposive sampling technique was adopted and a case control study was planned and conducted. Case was defined as “acute onset of generalized maculopapular rash and fever with cough or coryza or conjunctivitis from 29 January to 20 February 2018 in a resident of Dera Murad Jamali”. Active case searches along with interviews were conducted through a semi structured questionnaire. Demographic, socioeconomic, clinical and epidemiological information was collected along with assessment of routine immunization. Five blood samples were sent for serology. Results: A total of 49 cases (AR= 0.17%), including five deaths (CFR=10.2%), were identified. Males, 61% (n=30), were more affected. The median age was three years (age range=1-10 years). The age-group 0-4 years, 69% (n=34), was most affected. The median age group of controls were four years (age range 1-11 years). Of the cases, 71% were unimmunized for any routine antigen while 32% of controls were unimmunized. Pneumonia, 42.8% (n=21), and diarrhea, 38.7% (n=19), were the most common complications. All five samples were positive for measles IgM. Significant statistical association was found between nomadic populations having zero routine doses of measles containing vaccines (MCV1) (OR 2.85; CI 1.83 – 4.42; p value <0.0021) and developing measles. Conclusion: Nomadic populations with low immunization was a probable cause of outbreak, resulting in the rapid spread of measles amongst susceptible individuals in the community. Laboratory tests confirmed the outbreak. As a control measure, measles mop-up vaccinations and six health education sessions were suggested and carried out. It was also recommended that proper outreach microplanning and regular pulse immunization should be adopted in future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T18:13:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-27478c8054114cd791184f2601af6acc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2652-0036 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T18:13:46Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | University of New South Wales |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Biosecurity |
| spelling | doaj.art-27478c8054114cd791184f2601af6acc2022-12-22T03:21:42ZengUniversity of New South WalesGlobal Biosecurity2652-00362020-07-011410.31646/gbio.7064Measles Outbreak Investigation in Nomadic Population Nasirabad, Balochistan, Pakistan February 2018Zubair Ahmed0Abid Saeed1Ehsan Ahmed2Qurat ul Ain3Barkat Hussain4Saher Sultan5Khair Muhammad6Tamken Ghafoor7Mirza Amir Baig8FELTP; Ministry of Health, Government of BalochistanFELTP; Ministry of Health, Government of BalochistanFELTP; Ministry of Health, Government of BalochistanFELTP; Ministry of Health, Government of BalochistanMinistry of Health, Government of BalochistanMinistry of Health, Government of BalochistanFELTP; Ministry of Health, Government of BalochistanFELTPFELTPIntroduction: On 14 February 2018, the District Health Officer of Nasirabad reported 16 suspected measles cases from the nomadic population of Dera Murad Jamali to the disease surveillance and response unit of Quetta and requested an investigation. A FELTP fellow was deputed by the Director of General Health Services, Balochistan to investigate the outbreak, evaluate risk factors and recommend control measures. Methodology: A purposive sampling technique was adopted and a case control study was planned and conducted. Case was defined as “acute onset of generalized maculopapular rash and fever with cough or coryza or conjunctivitis from 29 January to 20 February 2018 in a resident of Dera Murad Jamali”. Active case searches along with interviews were conducted through a semi structured questionnaire. Demographic, socioeconomic, clinical and epidemiological information was collected along with assessment of routine immunization. Five blood samples were sent for serology. Results: A total of 49 cases (AR= 0.17%), including five deaths (CFR=10.2%), were identified. Males, 61% (n=30), were more affected. The median age was three years (age range=1-10 years). The age-group 0-4 years, 69% (n=34), was most affected. The median age group of controls were four years (age range 1-11 years). Of the cases, 71% were unimmunized for any routine antigen while 32% of controls were unimmunized. Pneumonia, 42.8% (n=21), and diarrhea, 38.7% (n=19), were the most common complications. All five samples were positive for measles IgM. Significant statistical association was found between nomadic populations having zero routine doses of measles containing vaccines (MCV1) (OR 2.85; CI 1.83 – 4.42; p value <0.0021) and developing measles. Conclusion: Nomadic populations with low immunization was a probable cause of outbreak, resulting in the rapid spread of measles amongst susceptible individuals in the community. Laboratory tests confirmed the outbreak. As a control measure, measles mop-up vaccinations and six health education sessions were suggested and carried out. It was also recommended that proper outreach microplanning and regular pulse immunization should be adopted in future.https://jglobalbiosecurity.com/articles/70measles, outbreak, immunization, health, vaccination, balochistan |
| spellingShingle | Zubair Ahmed Abid Saeed Ehsan Ahmed Qurat ul Ain Barkat Hussain Saher Sultan Khair Muhammad Tamken Ghafoor Mirza Amir Baig Measles Outbreak Investigation in Nomadic Population Nasirabad, Balochistan, Pakistan February 2018 Global Biosecurity measles, outbreak, immunization, health, vaccination, balochistan |
| title | Measles Outbreak Investigation in Nomadic Population Nasirabad, Balochistan, Pakistan February 2018 |
| title_full | Measles Outbreak Investigation in Nomadic Population Nasirabad, Balochistan, Pakistan February 2018 |
| title_fullStr | Measles Outbreak Investigation in Nomadic Population Nasirabad, Balochistan, Pakistan February 2018 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Measles Outbreak Investigation in Nomadic Population Nasirabad, Balochistan, Pakistan February 2018 |
| title_short | Measles Outbreak Investigation in Nomadic Population Nasirabad, Balochistan, Pakistan February 2018 |
| title_sort | measles outbreak investigation in nomadic population nasirabad balochistan pakistan february 2018 |
| topic | measles, outbreak, immunization, health, vaccination, balochistan |
| url | https://jglobalbiosecurity.com/articles/70 |
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