Africa-Press – South-Africa. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) says there is a measles outbreak in the Sekhukhune district in Limpopo.
The NICD said it detected three cases of measles in one month in the district.
“A measles outbreak is classified as three laboratory-confirmed measles cases reported within 30 days in a district, and a public health response investigation is needed to identify new measles cases and vaccination of the contacts to prevent the spread of the disease,” an NICD statement read.
In the first two measles cases, the onset of the disease was 22 September in an 11-year-old, and on 25 September in a one-year-old. The third case – an 11-month-old – was detected on 2 October.
Two of the children are unvaccinated against the disease, while the vaccination status of the third child is unknown.
To prevent further spread, a vaccination drive was conducted in the area.
By 7 October, 2 052 children were vaccinated in the Fetakgomo Tubatse and Elias Motsoaledi local municipalities, where the measles cases were detected.
The NICD said:
“Measles presents with fever, malaise, cough, conjunctivitis, and a runny nose. A non-itchy, non-vesicular rash appears on the face, neck, trunk, and limbs, usually on day four of the illness. Other measles complications are pneumonia, scarring of the cornea, and rarely, encephalitis.”
The NICD warned that the disease was highly infectious and spread rapidly from person to person.
“Persons of any age who are not vaccinated can catch measles and develop the disease.
“Clinicians and caregivers should check children’s road-to-health booklets to ensure measles vaccinations are up to date. Measles vaccines are given routinely at 6 and 12 months of age. It is never too late to vaccinate against measles.”
For More News And Analysis About South-Africa Follow Africa-Press
