Measles Outbreak in Anbar Province During 2023-2024. Demographic Distribution and Vaccination Status

Background: This is the first public study covering all cities in Anbar Province regarding the measles outbreaks occurred in 2023 and 2024. Aim: To estimate the demographic distribution of measles among infected children (age, gender, residence) in Anbar Province and to study the effectiveness of the measles vaccine for each patient on infection. Methods: A retrospective analytic cross-sectional study was conducted across all sectors of Anbar Province. The patients included those who were admitted, diagnosed, and treated in various hospitals during the measles outbreak in 2023, and 2024 years. The data was recorded in files of the Anbar Public Health Directorate, which included information on age, gender, residence, clinical manifestations, and vaccination status for each patient. Results: A total of 1,663 cases was 1663 patients with a male-to-female ratio of 1.2:1. Among the patients, 203 (12.2%) were less than one year old, 595 (35.8%) were between one to two years old, and 865 (52%)were more than two years. Of the cases, 259 (15.6%) were unvaccinated, 944 (56.8%) had received single dose of the measles vaccine, and 460 (27.6%) had received two or more doses. The most commonly reported clinical features were fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, coryza, and cough, while lymphadenopathy was the least reported. Conclusions: A high percentage of cases were diagnosed with measles in Anbar Province, and a significant number of patients contracted the infection despite being vaccinated.