Trends of measles in Tanzania: A 5-year review of case-based surveillance data, 2018-2022
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Date
2024-02
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Publisher
International Journal of Infectious Diseases
Abstract
Objectives: Tanzania observed a gradual increase in the number of measles cases since 2019 with a large
outbreak recorded during 2022. This study describes the trend of measles in Tanzania over a 5-year pe-
riod from 2018-2022.
Methods: This was a descriptive study conducted using routine measles case-based surveillance system
including 195 councils of the United Republic of Tanzania.
Results: Between 2018 and 2022 there were 12,253 measles cases reported. Out of 10,691 (87.25%) sam-
ples tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, 903 (8.4%) were measles immunoglobulin M posi-
tive. The highest number of laboratory-confirmed measles cases was in 2022 (64.8%), followed by 2020
(13.8%), and 2019 (13.5%). Out of 1279 unvaccinated cases, 213 (16.7%) were laboratory-confirmed measles
cases compared to 77/723 (10.6%) who were partially vaccinated and 71/1121 (6.3%) who were fully vac-
cinated (P < 0.001). Children aged between 1-4 years constituted the most confirmed measles cases after
laboratory testing, followed by those aged 5-9 years. There was a notable increase in the number of
laboratory-confirmed measles cases in children <1 year and 10-14 years during 2022 compared to pre-
vious years. The vaccination coverage of the first dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) was main-
tained >90% since 2013 while MCV2 increased gradually reaching 88% in 2022.
Description
Keywords
Measles, Outbreaks, Tanzania
Citation
Michael, F., Mirambo, M.M., Misinzo, G., Minzi, O., Beyanga, M., Mujuni, D., Kalabamu, F.S., Nyanda, E.N., Mwanyika-Sando, M., Ndiyo, D. and Kasonogo, R., 2024. Trends of measles in Tanzania: A 5-year review of case-based surveillance data, 2018-2022. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 139, pp.176-182.