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MEASLES SERO-SURVEILLANCE DURING MASS IMMUNISATION CAMPAIGN IN MALAWI
Abstract
Objective: To determine age-specific measles antibody prevalence and serological response
to vaccination during the first mass campaign against measles in Malawi.
Design: Cross-sectional study using a questionnaire and a serological particle agglutination
(PA) test.
Setting: Two health centres in Salima district, central Malawi during the national measles
immunisation week, 1998.
Pa,rticipants: Two hundred forty six under-five year old t hildren.
Results: Seventy four per cent of enrolled children (95 % crmfidence interval, 69-80%) were
measles PA antibody positive at the vaccination. The antibody positive rate was 17.490 in
children aged 8-12 months and gradually increased up to 90% by four years-old, while the
age-specific geometric mean titers (GMTs) in 48-59 months-old group were significantly
lower than those in 24-35 months-old group, suggesting antibody waning after previous
vaccination (p=0.0047). Two hundred and thirty follow up specimens were obtained eight
weeks after the vaccination. The sero-conversion rate was 100% in 58 children sero-negative
at the vaccination and the GMTs in 172 children seropositive at the vaccination were
significantly increased (p<0.001).
Conclusion: These results indicated that the first national measles immunisation campaign
successfully immunised the enrolled children or gave a booster response of antibody levels.
It was also confirmed that the PA test was easy to perform and most suitable for the field
condition in developing countries.
to vaccination during the first mass campaign against measles in Malawi.
Design: Cross-sectional study using a questionnaire and a serological particle agglutination
(PA) test.
Setting: Two health centres in Salima district, central Malawi during the national measles
immunisation week, 1998.
Pa,rticipants: Two hundred forty six under-five year old t hildren.
Results: Seventy four per cent of enrolled children (95 % crmfidence interval, 69-80%) were
measles PA antibody positive at the vaccination. The antibody positive rate was 17.490 in
children aged 8-12 months and gradually increased up to 90% by four years-old, while the
age-specific geometric mean titers (GMTs) in 48-59 months-old group were significantly
lower than those in 24-35 months-old group, suggesting antibody waning after previous
vaccination (p=0.0047). Two hundred and thirty follow up specimens were obtained eight
weeks after the vaccination. The sero-conversion rate was 100% in 58 children sero-negative
at the vaccination and the GMTs in 172 children seropositive at the vaccination were
significantly increased (p<0.001).
Conclusion: These results indicated that the first national measles immunisation campaign
successfully immunised the enrolled children or gave a booster response of antibody levels.
It was also confirmed that the PA test was easy to perform and most suitable for the field
condition in developing countries.
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