Campagne de vaccination contre la rougeole en période de pic épidémique dans une zone à forte prévalence de malnutrition au Niger: cas du district sanitaire de Mirriah (Zinder)

Introduction: Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. We here report the results of a vaccination campaign coupled with malnutrition screening and describe the epidemiological evolutionary and clinical features of patients with complicated measles hospitalized in the Department of Pediatrics at the hospital district of Mirriah in the region of Zinder, Niger. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive study during a 3-month period from February to April 2015. The study enrolled vaccinated children between 6-59 months and children between 6 months and 15 years of age hospitalized for complicated measles. The studied variables were: age, sex, rates of immunization coverage, clinical manifestations, detected cases of acute malnutrition, epidemio-clinical characteristics of hospitalized patients and their evolution. Data were recorded and analyzed with Excel software and Epi-Info7 software. Results: 127296 children aged six months-5 years were vaccinated. 132352 children were targeted to be immunized, reflecting a rate of 96%. Chidren within the age group 12-59 months accounted for 78,56% of vaccinated children. During the study period, 198 cases of measles were admitted to the segregation unit in the Department of Pediatrics at the district hospital of Mirriah. Male sex accounted for 51% (n=101), reflecting a sex-ratio M/F of 1.04. The average age of patients was 3.5 years (with a range from 6 months to 15 years). From a clinical point of view, fever and mucocutaneous eruptions were constant. These signs were associated with pneumopathy in 69% (n=69) of cases, digestive disorders in 29% (n=57) of cases, severe acute malnutrition in 48% of cases (n=96). 5 deaths were recorded, reflecting an overall mortality of 2.52%. They were related to the occurrence of neurological complications (p <0.0001). Conclusion: The rapid and strenuous efforts of the Ministry of Public Health and NGOs BEFEN and Alima allowed a 96% immunization coverage of the target population and to reduce mortality during this measles epidemic.