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Nepal makes significant progress toward measles elimination
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Measles elimination strategies in Nepal have significantly reduced the annual number of suspected cases and increased national single-dose measles vaccine coverage, according to a report in MMWR.
“In 2013, a goal was set for measles elimination in Nepal by 2019,” Sudhir Khanal, MPH, of immunization and vaccine development at WHO’s South-East Asia office in Delhi, India, and colleagues wrote. “During 2007-2014, reported incidence of suspected measles in Nepal decreased 13% after implementation of recommended elimination strategies.”
The researchers found during that period single-dose measles vaccine coverage increased from 81% to 88% throughout Nepal. In 2008, approximately 3.9 million children were vaccinated during supplementary immunization activities, while 9.7 million were vaccinated in 2014. The report stated that before 2007, no districts in Nepal met the goal of at least 95% vaccine coverage. As of 2014, 71% of districts reported single-dose measles vaccine coverage less than 95%, with approximately half at less than 90% coverage.
During the study period annual measles cases decreased nationally from 54 per 1 million people to 47 per 1 million people, a decline of 13%. The investigators said, based on laboratory confirmed cases and epidemiologically linked cases, the decreased incidence is potentially much greater.
Khanal and colleagues also wrote that a second dose of measles vaccine, to be administered at age 15 months, was added to the routine immunization program in Nepal in 2015.
“Achieving [at least] 95% two-dose measles vaccination coverage in all districts will require strengthening routine immunization services through innovative approaches, such as the ‘fully immunized village’ approach, and implementing periodic high-quality supplementary immunization activities,” Khanal and colleagues wrote. “Improved measles case-based surveillance performance and sensitivity are needed for rapid case detection and outbreak preparedness and response.” – by David Costill
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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