Epidemiological, Clinical, and Clinical Course Profile of Measles during the 2023–2024 Outbreak in Burkina Faso
Zemane Guelilou *
Infectious Diseases Department, Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Konaté Issa
Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Point G University Hospital, Bamako, Mali.
Gnamou Arouna
Infectious Diseases Department, Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Ouedraogo Gafourou Arsène
Infectious Diseases Department, Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Ouedraogo Dramane
Infectious Diseases Department, Ouahigouya Regional University Hospital, Banfora, Burkina Faso.
Sanfo Salmata
Infectious Diseases Department, Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Diallo Ismael
Department of Internal Medicine, Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Kafando Lassané
Directorate of Public Health Protection, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Barry Boubacar
Military Medical and Surgical Center, Bamako, Mali.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: Measles is a widespread exanthematous febrile illness caused by a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. The reservoir is exclusively human, and transmission occurs between humans. It is one of the most contagious infectious diseases. In Burkina Faso, measles remains a public health problem. The country experienced a major epidemic from November 2023 to August 2024.
Objective: To study the epidemiological, clinical, and disease-progression profile of measles during the 2023–2024 epidemic in Burkina Faso.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study used data on measles cases reported in Burkina Faso from 1 November 2023 to 31 August 2024. The data were obtained from the database of the Directorate of Population Health Protection. Descriptive analysis was performed using Excel 2019.
Results: A total of 7,149 measles cases were included. The overall incidence of measles was 33.28 per 100,000 inhabitants. Males were overrepresented, accounting for 51.45% of cases. The median age was 4 years. The most frequently represented age group was 0–5 years, accounting for 55.81% of cases. Most measles cases were unvaccinated, accounting for 55.31% of cases. The Hauts-Bassins and Centre regions were the most affected, with incidence rates of 67.78 and 60.17 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively. The health districts of Houndé (14.69%) in the Hauts-Bassins region and Bogodogo (10.77%) in the Centre region reported the highest numbers of cases. Epidemiological weeks S08-2024 and S12-2024 recorded the highest numbers of measles cases, accounting for 7.33% and 7.32% of cases, respectively. Only 11.87% of cases had travelled within the seven days before the onset of clinical symptoms. Fever, rash, and cough were the most commonly reported symptoms, occurring in 96.87%, 95.06%, and 89.29% of cases, respectively. Laboratory confirmation was obtained in 9.79% of cases. The measles case-fatality rate during the outbreak was 0.45%.
Conclusion: Measles remains a public health problem, underscoring the need to strengthen the Expanded Programme on Immunization, outbreak response, and nationwide vaccination strategies.
Keywords: Measles, outbreak, epidemiology, clinical profile, vaccination status, incidence, case-fatality, immunisation, surveillance