IMPACT OF EMERGENCY MASS IMMUNISATIONS ON MEASLES CONTROL IN DISPLACED POPULATIONS IN GULU DISTRICT, NORTHERN UGANDA

Objective: To assess the impact of supplemental mass measles immunisations.Design: Retrospective study of hospital and health centre records.Setting: Gulu district, Northern Uganda, having approximately 81% of the population living in internally displaced persons' (IDPs) camps.Results: The mean age in months for 4,812 measles cases seen was 28.2 ± 46.0 (p<0.0001). Supplemental mass immunisations in 1997 and 2000 caused a 91% reduction of measles cases, 93% reduction of mortality, 91% reduction of bed-days and 79% reduction of outpatient cases. There was a 67% reduction in mean measles case admissions, 63% reduction in mean measles mortality, and 73% reduction in mean measles bed-daysfollowing district mass measles immunisations in 1997. However, following IDPs camps supplemental immunisations in 2000; there was 82% reduction of mean measles caseadmissions, 80% reduction of mean measles mortality and 88% reduction of mean measles bed-days.Conclusions: In similar situations, supplemental mass measles immunisations should be focused on IDPs camps with a wide age group in addition to improved routine immunization activities in the entire district