2018 Madagascar measles outbreak
In early September 2018, cases of measles began to appear in Antananarivo, Madagascar. Capitol health authorities challenged by the district's poverty and Madagascar's relatively-low vaccination rate[3] were unable to contain the highly-contagious disease, and what followed became the largest measles outbreak yet in Madagascar's history.[4] With more than 115,000 people infected and more than 1,200 dying, the outbreak has become Madagascar's most serious outbreak of measles in the 21st century.
| 2018 Madagascar measles outbreak | |
|---|---|
| Disease | Measles |
| Virus strain | Measles morbillivirus |
| Location | Madagascar |
| Index case | 3 family members in Antananarivo-Renivohitra District |
| Dates | September 2018–present[1] |
| Confirmed cases | 118,000+ |
Deaths | 1,688+[2] |
Outbreak
Measles cases were first detected in the urban, downtown district of Antananarivo-Renivohetra on 3 September 2018. At the time, health authorities were still heavily engaged in the remnants of last year's plague epidemic, and public resources were identified to tracking down remaining cases. On 4 October, the Institute Pasteur de Madagascar confirmed the presence of measles morbillivirus in samples from 3 patients[5] and identified the B3 strain.[6] The virus had already spread outwards to the capital's Tanà South, Tanà North, Ambohidramito districts, and by 18 November there were over 3,200 recorded cases in Madagascar.[5]
Response
Measles immunity rates are below average in Madagascar at 83%, versus the 95% recommended by the World Health Organization. Availability of the MMR vaccine is patchy in Madagascar due to the island's mountainous geography, presenting a challenge to distributors.[7]
References
- "Vainquons Ensemble la Rougeole à Madagascar". Ministère de la Santé Publique. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
- "Madagascar measles epidemic kills more than 1,200 despite desire for vaccinations". The Associated Press. 14 April 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- "MAF Flights Support Measles Prevention in Madagascar". Globalnewspublisher.com. 28 May 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- Bezain, Laetitia (14 April 2019). "Measles outbreak kills more than 1200 in Madagascar". Associated Press. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
- "Madagascar: Measles Outbreak - Oct 2018". Relief Web. March 2019. Archived from the original on 13 April 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
- "Emergencies preparedness, response: Measles - Madagascar". World Health Organization. 17 January 2019. Archived from the original on 20 October 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
- Mensah, K.; Heraud, J. M.; Takahashi, S.; Winter, A. K.; Metcalf, C. J. E.; Wesolowski, A. (2019-04-24). "Seasonal gaps in measles vaccination coverage in Madagascar". Vaccine. 37 (18): 2511–2519. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.02.069. ISSN 0264-410X. PMC 6466641. PMID 30940486.