Epidemiology of Measles in Sudan
Taha Hussein Musa *
Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu Province, China. and Biomedical Research Institute, Darfur College, Nyala, Sudan.
Hassan Hussein Musa
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Khartoum, Sudan.
Layla Ahmed Mohammed
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Khartoum, Sudan.
Abdelkareem Abdallah Ahmed
Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Nyala, P.O.Box 155, Sudan.
Rehab Ibrahim Kambo
World Health Organization WHO South Darfur Sub-Office Nyala, Sudan.
Idriss Hussein Musa
Sudan Medical Specialization Board, Khartoum, Sudan.
Tauseef Ahmad
Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu Province, China.
Joseph Kawuki
Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, Global Health School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu Province, China.
Upama Ghimire
Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, Global Health School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu Province, China.
Nathan Obore
Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, Global Health School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu Province, China.
Shireen Salome Papabathini
Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, Global Health School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu Province, China.
Alieu Tommy
Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, Global Health School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu Province, China.
Lovel Fornah
Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, Global Health School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu Province, China.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Few epidemiological studies have been undertaken of measles disease among Sudanese, although measles is the third leading cause of death since 1995 among childhood diseases that can be prevented by immunization. The measles vaccine was introduced into the EPI program in 1985. In the run-up to the introduction of the vaccine, the country suffered from measles epidemics periodically and extensively, ranging from 50,000 to 75,000 cases and from 15,000 to 30,000 deaths per year. Simple actions can save a million lives of children through immunization coverage, eye care programs, maternal and child health education, maintaining and improving the general nutritional status of Sudanese children. Continuous surveillance and monitoring systems and evaluation are essential tasks at all levels to improve performance, identify and address problems throughout establishing and increasing the surveillance system. This review highlights a brief overview of measles epidemiology in Sudan and determinants of a measles outbreak, clinical symptoms, complications, and surveillance sites and the ways for prevention and control of measles disease. The review established that it is crucial to enforce coordination between governmental and non-governmental agencies for an effective disease surveillance system in the area, especially in those affected by civil wars.
Keywords: Measles, epidemiology, vaccine, Sudan, measles outbreak.