Title : Investigation of a suspected case of measles in Thomassin, Pétion-Ville Haiti, May 2021
Abstract:
Background: Measles, a highly contagious viral infection caused by a paramyxovirus (measles virus) particularly affecting children under 5 years old with a case fatality rate of 3 to 15% in developing countries according to the World Health Organization . Since 2012, Haiti has received the certificate of its elimination but it remains an immediately reportable disease. On May 9, 2021, the Western Health Department was alerted to a suspected case of measles in Thomassin, commune of Pétion-Ville. An investigation was conducted to confirm the information in the community. Methods: This is a descriptive analysis. The Measles case definition of the Directorate of Epidemiology, Laboratories and Research (DELR) was adopted. Interviews were conducted with the suspected case. The investigation form was used to collect sociodemographic, clinical and risk factor data. The sample was collected and transferred to the National Laboratory for testing. Microsoft Word and Excel were used for analysis and presentation of results. Results: The case was a 36-year-old man, no vaccination status; he had fever, swollen eyelids, red eyes, cough, runny nose and the IGM antibody test was suspicious of measles. Another suspected case was identified by active search, her 3-year-old child; vaccinated and lived in the same house as the index case. The IGM antibody test was negative for measles and positive for rubella hence re-testing was requested but refused. Education sessions on the mode of transmission, signs and symptoms of measles/rubella were done with the family. Conclusion: The investigation conducted ruled out measles and confirmed Rubella in the contact, but the new tests were refused by the patients. Keywords: Measles, suspected case, contact case, Confirmation, Thomassin, Haiti, May 2021
