Measles Outbreak in Africa linked to HIV
Measles remains an important cause of child mortality, although the numbers of measles-related deaths has decreased during the last decade through childhood immunisation programmes and follow-up measles vaccine campaigns.
Measles remains an important cause of child mortality, although the numbers of measles-related deaths has decreased during the last decade through childhood immunisation programmes and follow-up measles vaccine campaigns. Despite these joint efforts, an increased number of large and deadly outbreaks of measles on the African continent have been reported over this period . There are obviously several factors of medical and social relevance to take into consideration when trying to explain the increased measles outbreaks in Africa. This article focuses on the co-existing link between the measles outbreaks and pathological features of HIV infection in mothers and children and found that as a consequence of HIV infection, both the HIV infected mother and child lose measles-specific memory B cells formed upon measles natural infection or vaccination. Resulting in a low, non-protective level of measles antibodies in the mother, a low level of antibodies transmitted through the placental barrier to the child, and a low, non-protective level of measles-specific antibodies produced from the infected child upon vaccination. Which means that extra care needs to be taken when vaccinating these patients to ensure they are adequately looked after.
