City in drive to curb spread of measles
The forms will be given to the children for the parents to sign and return to their schools or ECD centres.
THE City of Johannesburg is soon to embark on a massive emergency measles vaccination campaign to prevent the spread of the highly contagious disease, the leading cause of death among babies and teenagers.
The campaign, which starts on May 15 and runs until June 30, follows a directive from the National Department of Health after a reported increase in the number of confirmed measles cases in Gauteng.
In March, six cases of measles were confirmed in Johannesburg, with Lenasia, in Region G, identified as a hot spot. The disease has since spread to other parts of Johannesburg.
The six-week immunisation drive will target children aged six months to 15 years in Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, public and private schools, health facilities as well as at pre-identified hot spots.
Although a safe and cost-effective vaccine is available, measles is a highly infectious notifiable viral disease whose symptoms include high fever, feeling unwell, coughing, runny nose and teary eyes two or three days before a rash breaks out.
If left untreated, measles can lead to complications including blindness, pneumonia, inflammation of the brain and death.
On March 15, the National Institute of Communicable Diseases confirmed six cases of measles in Johannesburg. The cases were mainly among primary school children who were previously not vaccinated against the disease. The vaccines are routinely given at six and 12 months of age.
The health department has appealed to parents to sign consent forms for their children to be vaccinated.
The forms will be given to the children for the parents to sign and return to their schools or ECD centres.
For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. You can also email our offices on cvdwalt@caxton.co.za, juliem@caxton.co.za or luckyt@caxton.co.za
Add us on WhatsApp today! Alberton Record: 060 644 5264 Comaro Chronicle: 079 427 8074 and Southern Courier: 079 404 5789.
