The Gauteng Department of Health has strengthened its outreach programme aimed at creating more awareness about measles by encouraging parents and caregivers to make sure their children are immunised.
This is throughout the entire Gauteng province including the West Rand region, which has already reported a case of measles.
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As of Tuesday, January 17, the department confirmed a total of 15 measles cases since the declaration of a national measles outbreak in October last year. Of this 15, one case was reported in the West Rand District, four from Tshwane, two from Johannesburg and eight from Ekurhuleni.
Gauteng Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Health and Wellness Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko said they are having vaccination campaigns at health facilities.
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“The department is currently conducting a province-wide measles outbreak response vaccination campaign, targeting children from 6 months to 15 years old. The vaccination campaign for measles is taking place in health facilities from Monday to Friday. As of January 6, more than 43 000 children have been vaccinated in health facilities to protect them against measles,” said Nkomo-Ralehoko.
A statement issued by the department recently revealed that measles is a highly contagious disease.
It affects children under the age of 1 and can also occur in older children as well as adults who have not been vaccinated or who have not previously had the disease.
Patients with measles present symptoms including fever, a cough, runny nose, sneezing, red watery eyes, sore throat and rash.
It is spread by contact with saliva or mucus droplets from the mouth or nose of an infected person when they breathe, cough or sneeze.
According to Nkomo-Ralehoko, “Measles infections are not localised to particular risk groups or geographical areas and occur anywhere in the country. Cases can be found in communities or institutions like a crèche, daycare centre or school.”
