More than 305 laboratory-confirmed measles cases have been reported from five provinces in recent weeks, with declared outbreaks in Limpopo (131 cases), Mpumalanga (69 cases), North West (80 cases), Gauteng (14 cases), and Free State (11 cases), says the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).
The number of cases continues to increase daily as blood and throat swabs are submitted to the NICD for measles serology and PCR testing, TimesLIVE reports.
The latest case in Tshwane, reported on 30 December, was of a four-year-old boy from Hammanskraal, where health authorities are on high alert.
“In December the city implemented a measles vaccination campaign as a preventive measure, targeting children aged six months to 15 years, said Health MMC Rina Marx last week.
“The city has also launched an awareness campaign to mobilise and keep communities informed through radio stations and social media.”
Of those who have been infected, less than one-third had a vaccination record. And of those with a record, 61% had not had the measles vaccine.
Complications are more serious in those who catch measles as infants (under two years of age) and in children who are malnourished.
The NICD said the age of lab-confirmed cases across the provinces ranged from two months to 42 years.
The most affected age group was five to nine years old, (41%), followed by 28% in the one-to-four age group and % in the 10-to-14 age group. The worst-hit province is Limpopo.
TimesLIVE article – Growing South African measles outbreak sees cases climb to 297 (Open access)
TimesLIVE article – Tshwane health services ready to prevent spread of measles (Open access)
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Measles immunisation campaign to start in February as cases spread
WHO, CDC issue global measles warning
Concern as measles spreads to Mpumalanga
Limpopo measles cases increase
South Africa ‘on the cusp’ of a major measles outbreak, say experts