Rudi Eggers

Bio: Rudi Eggers is an academic researcher from World Health Organization. The author has contributed to research in topics: Measles & Vaccination. The author has an hindex of 8, co-authored 8 publications receiving 426 citations.

Impact of the 1996–1997 supplementary measles vaccination campaigns in South Africa

Abstract: Background: In South Africa as part of an effort to eliminate indigenous measles by 2002 vaccination campaigns were conducted in 1996–1997 targeting all children aged 9 months to 14 years; coverage was estimated at 85%. The impact of the campaigns on measles disease burden was evaluated in 1999. Methods: We analyzed routine measles surveillance data and undertook a retrospective review of hospital registers in two of South Africa’s nine provinces. Results: In Mpumalanga in the pre-campaign years (1992–1996) 4498 measles cases and 6 deaths were reported; 182 cases and no deaths were reported in 1997–1998. Hospital registers showed 1647 measles hospitalizations and 11 deaths in the precampaign period and 60 hospitalizations and no deaths after the campaign (1997–April 1999). In Western Cape in pre-campaign years (1992–1997) 5164 measles cases and 19 deaths were reported; 132 cases and no deaths were reported in 1998. Hospital registers showed 736 measles hospitalizations and 23 deaths in the pre-campaign period and 29 measles hospitalizations and no deaths postcampaign (1998–July 1999). Conclusions: Study findings indicate that reported measles cases measles-related hospitalizations and deaths were considerably reduced in both provinces after the campaign compared with the pre-campaign period. Longer observation is needed to evaluate the long-term impact of the campaigns. (author’s)

The Clinical Significance of Measles: A Review

Abstract: Forty years after effective vaccines were licensed, measles continues to cause death and severe disease in children worldwide. Complications from measles can occur in almost every organ system. Pneumonia, croup, and encephalitis are common causes of death; encephalitis is the most common cause of long-term sequelae. Measles remains a common cause of blindness in developing countries. Complication rates are higher in those 20 years old, although croup and otitis media are more common in those <2 years old and encephalitis in older children and adults. Complication rates are increased by immune deficiency disorders, malnutrition, vitamin A deficiency, intense exposures to measles, and lack of previous measles vaccination. Case-fatality rates have decreased with improvements in socioeconomic status in many countries but remain high in developing countries.

Global distribution of measles genotypes and measles molecular epidemiology.

Abstract: A critical component of laboratory surveillance for measles is the genetic characterization of circulating wild-type viruses. The World Health Organization (WHO) Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network (LabNet), provides for standardized testing in 183 countries and supports genetic characterization of currently circulating strains of measles viruses. The goal of this report is to describe the lessons learned from nearly 20 years of virologic surveillance for measles, to describe the global databases for measles sequences, and to provide regional updates about measles genotypes detected by recent surveillance activities. Virologic surveillance for measles is now well established in all of the WHO regions, and most countries have conducted at least some baseline surveillance. The WHO Global Genotype Database contains >7000 genotype reports, and the Measles Nucleotide Surveillance (MeaNS) contains >4000 entries. This sequence information has proven to be extremely useful for tracking global transmission patterns and for documenting the interruption of transmission in some countries. The future challenges will be to develop quality control programs for molecular methods and to continue to expand virologic surveillance activities in all regions.