Measles in Zaire: 1987

Abstract

Despite widespread efforts to prevent measles, a measles epidemic raged in Zaire during 1986 and early 1987. Hospitalized patients were studied with the goals of better understanding the weakness of the current efforts and of suggesting improvements in the local practice of primary health care. One hundred seventy five patients were hospitalized with measles or measles complications between October 1986 and February 1987 at the Evangelical Medical Center in north-eastern Zaire. Ten percent died. Most patients were young (but older than 15 months) and poorly nourished. All patients were incompletely vaccinated. A changed vaccine schedule is proposed, and more thorough application of primary health care measures is encouraged.