POLOKWANE – In reaction to a post on Medpark Polokwane’s Facebook page regarding a possible outbreak of German Measles, Review spoke to a doctor at the practice who confirmed that several cases have been diagnosed, but insists there is currently no cause for concern.
According to Dr Dirk de Lange, a doctor at Redimed Polokwane, he has treated a few cases of German Measles but says it is not the beginning of a pandemic.
German Measles, or Rubella, is an infection that mostly affects the skin and lymph nodes. It is caused by the rubella virus (not the same virus that causes measles).
Dr de Lange explains that once contracted, the infection begins with non-specific symptoms, which include the following flu-like symptoms such as fever, scratchy throat, headache, loss of appetite, a stuffy or runny nose, swollen lymph nodes in other parts of the body, and pain and swelling in the joints (especially in young women).
German measles is not as severe as ‘classical measles’, says De Lange.
According to the post, more than 10 children from the same crèche have been diagnosed with German Measles.
