Measles Outbreak Investigation in Nbeika Commune, Tagant Region, Mauritania, January 2024

Introduction Measles is a disease caused by a virus of the Paramyxoviridae family. The measles virus is usually transmitted through direct contact or through the air, infecting the respiratory tract before spreading throughout the body. A measles epidemic has been reported in the commune of Nbeika by the Regional Directorate of Health of Tagant. After the laboratory confirmation of the outbreak, it became necessary to investigate this outbreak to take stock of the situation. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 7 to 14 January 2024 on suspected cases of measles in the Tagant region. Active tracing was carried out at the level of health facilities in reporting districts to identify cases that met the case definition. The data was analyzed with Epi Info 7.2 and Excel 2020 and presented in the form of tables, graphs and maps. Results: A total of 59 cases of measles have been reported as of 14/01/2024, including 6 laboratory-confirmed cases and 53 epidemiologically confirmed cases. Fifty-six percent of cases are women, with a sex ratio (F/M) of 1.3. The average age was 17 ± 13. The adult age group is most affected by measles, followed by the 5 to 14 age group. Of the reported cases, 98% of measles cases were unvaccinated. Patients were presented with fever, rash and cough. Conclusions: The outbreak was confirmed by the laboratory of the National Institute for Public Health Research, with the commune of Nbeika reporting 98% of cases. The response to the outbreak allowed for good case management and the organization of a response vaccination campaign that vaccinated 428 people aged 12 months to 50 years.