Epidemiological Profile of Measles Rash in the City of Greater Conakry, Republic of Guinea

Abstract

Measles and rubella are highly contagious viral infections for which there is no effective antiviral treatment. Objective: To contribute to surveillance efforts as part of the elimination of measles and rubella in Guinea. Methods: This is a prospective, descriptive, and analytical cross-sectional study that was conducted over a ten-month period from 1 January to 1 November 2024. The Euroimmun IgM measles ELISA kit was used to test for anti-measles and anti-rubella immunoglobulin M. Results: Out of 300 samples suspected of measles and rubella, females were the most affected with a prevalence of 25.33% compared to 22.67% for males for measles, with a sex ratio of 1.03 in favour of females. Unlike rubella, both females and males were affected equally, with a prevalence of 1.28% each. The 0-10 age group was the most affected, with a prevalence of 47.33% for measles. In the same age group, the prevalence of rubella was 2.57%. Of the 144 samples that tested positive for anti-measles IgM, representing a prevalence of 48%, four of the 156 samples that tested negative for measles tested positive for anti-rubella IgM, representing a prevalence of 2.57%. Among vaccinated individuals, out of 53 patients, 12 tested positive, 3 were indeterminate and 39 tested negative for measles virus immunoglobulin M, representing 22.64%, 73.58% and 5.66% respectively. Patients from the Matoto district were the most affected by measles, with a prevalence of 12.34%, followed by those from Ratoma with 11.33%. However, the municipality of Coyah was the most affected by rubella, with a prevalence of 1.92%, followed by Ratoma with 0.64%. 48% of patients had anti-measles immunoglobulin M, and of the 156 patients suspected of having measles who tested negative, only 4 samples tested positive for anti-rubella IgM, or 2.57%. In our study, we note that out of 300 samples suspected of measles, 18% had been vaccinated, 51% had not been vaccinated, and 31% had unknown vaccination status. Conclusion: Measles and rubella are a public health problem in Guinea, and management requires monitoring of IgM and IgG.