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Investigation of the effectiveness of measles vaccination in children in Kenya

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2009

T. M. Bell
Affiliation:
Department of Virology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, England
P. M. Tukei
Affiliation:
Virus Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute, P.O. Box 54628, Nairobi, Kenya
G. R. Ademba
Affiliation:
Virus Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute, P.O. Box 54628, Nairobi, Kenya
F. M. Mbugua
Affiliation:
Virus Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute, P.O. Box 54628, Nairobi, Kenya
G. W. Gathara
Affiliation:
Virus Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute, P.O. Box 54628, Nairobi, Kenya
J. M. Magana
Affiliation:
Virus Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute, P.O. Box 54628, Nairobi, Kenya
P. Kinyanjui
Affiliation:
Virus Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute, P.O. Box 54628, Nairobi, Kenya
J. Muli
Affiliation:
Virus Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute, P.O. Box 54628, Nairobi, Kenya
D. T. G. Hazlett
Affiliation:
Virus Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute, P.O. Box 54628, Nairobi, Kenya
J. E. A. Alwar
Affiliation:
Infectious Diseases Hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital, P.O. Box 20723, Nairobi and Department of Paediatrics, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30588, Nairobi, Kenya
P. C. Kiptoon
Affiliation:
Infectious Diseases Hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital, P.O. Box 20723, Nairobi and Department of Paediatrics, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30588, Nairobi, Kenya
V. N. M. Kireti
Affiliation:
Infectious Diseases Hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital, P.O. Box 20723, Nairobi and Department of Paediatrics, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30588, Nairobi, Kenya
A. Waweru
Affiliation:
Rural Health Training Centre, P.O. Box 72, Maragua, Central Province, Kenya
R. Mwavuo
Affiliation:
Rural Health Training Centre, P.O. Box 72, Maragua, Central Province, Kenya
M. Mbogo
Affiliation:
Rural Health Training Centre, P.O. Box 72, Maragua, Central Province, Kenya
B. Thiongo
Affiliation:
Rural Health Training Centre, P.O. Box 72, Maragua, Central Province, Kenya
D. Kamande
Affiliation:
Rural Health Training Centre, P.O. Box 72, Maragua, Central Province, Kenya
T. Munyeti
Affiliation:
Rural Health Training Centre, P.O. Box 72, Maragua, Central Province, Kenya
J. Ortega
Affiliation:
Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 30016, Nairobi, Kenya
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Laboratory studies were performed on 128 children clinically diagnosed as measles when seen at the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Kenyatta National Hospital (IDH), Nairobi (86 cases) and the Rural Health Training Centre, Maragua, Central Province (42 cases) between 9 July and 31 August 1984. A concurrent measles infection was confirmed in 95% of the children seen at IDH and in 85% of those seen at Maragua, with similar proportions of confirmations in children who had, and who had not, received measles vaccine. No differences in the number of sero-conversions nor in the absolute levels of acute or convalescent HI antibody titres could be detected between vaccinated and unvaccinated children. Analysis of the cases seen at Maragua indicates that about two thirds of the children who had received vaccine were protected. A pilot study of vaccinating children at 8 months and again at 12–13 months is suggested in an attempt to eradicate measles.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

References

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