Measles Impact in Unvaccinated Children
Author Information
Author(s): William J. Moss
Primary Institution: Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
Hypothesis
Children in Nigeria, Niger, and Chad face high mortality rates from measles despite global declines in measles mortality.
Conclusion
Children in Nigeria, Niger, and Chad still experience unacceptably high mortality from measles, a largely preventable disease.
Supporting Evidence
- Measles case fatality ratios in endemic areas of sub-Saharan Africa range from 5% to 10%.
- During a famine in Ethiopia, measles accounted for 22% of deaths among children under five.
- Vaccinated children have less severe disease and lower mortality rates from measles.
Takeaway
Measles can be very dangerous for kids who aren't vaccinated, and many of them are getting very sick and dying.
Methodology
The study conducted retrospective household surveys in neighborhoods affected by measles outbreaks.
Potential Biases
The study may be subject to recall and misclassification biases.
Limitations
Potential recall and misclassification biases may affect the estimates.
Participant Demographics
The population surveyed included over 64,000 individuals from affected areas.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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