ABSTRACT
Few epidemiological studies have been undertaken of measles disease among Sudanese, although measles is the third leading cause of death since 1995among childhood diseases that can be prevented by immunization. The measles vaccine was introduced into the EPI programin 1985. In the run-up to the introduction of the vaccine, the country suffered from measles epidemics periodically and extensively, ranging from 50,000 to 75,000 cases and from 15,000 to 30,000 deaths per year. Simple actions can save a million livesof children throughimmunizationcoverage, eye care programs, maternal and child health education, maintaining and improving the general nutritional status of Sudanesechildren. Continuous surveillance and monitoring systems and evaluation are essential tasks at all levels to improve performance, identify and address problems throughout establishing and increasingthe surveillance system. This review highlights a brief overview of measles epidemiology in Sudan and determinants of a measles outbreak, clinical symptoms, complications, and surveillance sites and the ways for prevention and control of measles disease. The review established that it is crucial to enforce coordination between governmental and non-governmental agencies for an effective disease surveillancesystem in the area, especially in those affected by civil wars
ABSTRACT
Case-based surveillance measles data was defined according to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. A total of 511 measles cases were studied from 2011 to 2015 in Southern Darfur State, Sudan and 58.1% of cases were confirmed from Nyala city. About 43.4% of cases were males, 56.6% of cases were female, and 47.7% were children under five years old. Similarity, within February to June, the cases increased by 8.0% in children vaccinated through measles campaign, and 5.3% in children that used child vaccination card and 78.7% in unvaccinated one. The epidemiologically linked (EPI-Linked) measles cases declined from 2011 to 2015; consequently, Measles still remain to be a significant challenge in south Darfur state, Sudan.