Epidemiology of Measles in Bale Zone South East Ethiopia 2019

Abstract Background: - Measles remains causes of vaccine preventable death in children worldwide. Cases comes to health facilities after complication developed, and miss diagnosed as the complication than measles, which is a reason for under reporting of measles cases and number of reported cases represents small proportion of expected cases. While aim of this study is to analyze seven years (2013-2019) measles surveillance data of Bale zone and to indicate measles surveillance related gaps. Method: - Cross sectional study conducted from May 25-June 25/2019. Study population and sample was all measles cases reported to bale zone from 2013-2019. Data abstracted by reviewing seven years measles line list and case-based report by investigator using data abstraction check list. Data entered and analyzed by Microsoft excel. Tables, graph and percent presented the data. Result: - Overall, 4241 measles cases were reported with a case fatality of 3.07/1000 population. About 248(5.8%) were measles IgM confirmed. Mean age of the case patients were 7.15 and 2147 (50.6%) were males. The most affected age group were <4 years, 1685 (39.7%) of cases. The highest prevalence rate 141 / 100,000 populations reported in 2019.Unvaccinated and unknown status were 890(21%) and 731(17.2%). The highest numbers of cases reported from Ginir and Gololcha. Measles cases increase in autumn season of the year and reaches peak in May. Conclusion: - Measles is the major causes of morbidity and Mortality in Bale zone due to poor immunization coverage, 890(21%) of case patients were un vaccinated. Though community death is not included case fatality is high. Ginir reported the highest number of cases. Increasing vaccine coverage of the zone, early preparedness before annual cycle and strengthening measles case-based surveillance is mandatory.