From March 2000 to May 2001, four camps in Kibondo District, Tanzania, hosting refugees from Burundi reported 1062 cases of measles, a highly infectious and potentially lethal disease. Of 1062 case-patients, 225 (21%) were <9 months old, 286 (27%) were 9 months to 5 years, 324 (31%) were 6-15 years, and 227 (21%) were ≥16 years old. No deaths were reported. Although, in accordance with Sphere Project guidelines for humanitarian emergencies, camp policy was to vaccinate all new arrivals aged 6 months to 15 years against measles, 152 (72%) of 210 newly arrived refugees in this age group were unvaccinated; 143 (94%) of the 152 had lived in the camp ≥1 month before rash onset. This investigation supports Sphere Project recommendations for wide age group vaccination and suggests that in some circumstances vaccination of refugees >15 years old may be beneficial.

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health care policy Population Surveillance human Refugees controlled study priority journal Burundi Humans Adolescent Infant preventive health service Child, Preschool measles vaccination Disease Outbreaks Article epidemic infection control measles vaccine major clinical study age Tanzania world health organization vaccination measles Child