Africa-Press – South-Africa. As the measles outbreak in Limpopo spreads to Mpumalanga, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has warned that it poses a risk for greater spread.
Since September, the NICD has recorded 57 measles cases in Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
The outbreak started in the Sekhukhune district municipality of Limpopo, which now has 23 cases.
It has spread to the Capricorn and Waterberg districts in Limpopo as well as Ehlanzeni in Mpumalanga.
The Mopani region has 23 cases. Capricorn and Waterberg have two cases each.
The Vhembe district in Limpopo has reported two laboratory-confirmed measles cases, one of which has been linked to the measles circulation in neighbouring Zimbabwe.
According to the NICD, Limpopo has the highest number of cases at 52.
“In the past seven days, four laboratory-confirmed measles cases were reported in the Bushbuckridge area of Ehlanzeni district in Mpumalanga province.”
This brought the number of cases in the area to five.
Ehlanzeni district shares a border with Greater Sekhukhune and the Mopani districts, which were the first districts to declare measles outbreaks.
“The spread of measles cases in Limpopo province and Ehlanzeni district, Mpumalanga province, poses the risk of measles spread. The sporadic laboratory-confirmed measles cases were reported in Northern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Free State, and the Western Cape provinces.”
To avoid a wider spread, the NICD recommends that all patients’ contacts be traced and vaccinated against the disease.
“Vaccination of measles case contacts is necessary in Ehlanzeni district for laboratory-confirmed measles cases to prevent the spread of the measles virus. To prevent the spread of the measles virus in other provinces, the sporadic measles case contacts should be traced and given measles vaccine doses as per the National Measles Surveillance Guidelines.”
In the Sekhukhune area, the youngest patient is six months old and the oldest 24.
The youngest patient in the Mopani district is two years old, and the oldest 42.
“The measles cases in Ehlanzeni district in Mpumalanga province are aged between 18 months and 10 years. The measles incidence is high in age groups 13 months to four years and five to nine years. No deaths or other complications have been reported after two children were discharged from the hospital.
“Affected districts continue with the public health response tracing laboratory-confirmed measles cases and vaccinating the contacts. In healthcare facilities, catch-up measles vaccine doses are given to children who missed their measles vaccinations to increase immunity in the community. The public health response to the measles outbreak in Limpopo province should target improving measles immunity.”
The NICD said the vaccination status of 86% of the patients is unknown, impacting the evaluation of measles coverage in affected areas.
“The affected districts in Limpopo province are continuing with the investigation of measles cases and vaccination of measles contacts. Measles catch-up vaccination continues at healthcare facilities for children who missed the routine measles vaccination doses.”
Measles patients present with fever, rash and one or more of the following symptoms – cough, red eyes and runny nose.
Complications of measles include pneumonia, diarrhoea, dehydration, encephalitis, blindness and death.
The disease is severe in malnourished children and young infants under two years of age.
Persons of any age, who are not vaccinated, can catch measles and develop the disease.
Measles vaccine doses are given routinely at six and 12 months of age.
“It is never too late to vaccinate against measles,” the NICD said.
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