28 December 2004
The National Department of Health is issuing a health warning about escalating numbers of measles cases occurring countrywide.
Both KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng provinces have seen large numbers of measles in the last few months. Cases of measles were also reported from other provinces.
The Department's Expanded Programme on Immunisation has attributed the highest incidence of measles cases to be due to a below 90% routine immunisation coverage in South Africa and importation of cases from countries with poor immunisation coverages.
Measles immunisation implies that each child should be vaccinated with two doses of measles vaccine - the first at 9 months of age and a booster dose at 18 months.
Parents are thus urged to ensure that their children have been fully immunised with the routine two doses of measles vaccine. This excludes the dose recently received in the mass immunisation campaign against measles and polio conducted countrywide in July and September 2004. If unsure about their children's immunisation status, parents can report to their nearest public health facility for screening and advice.
Measles is a highly infectious viral disease that can spread easily from person to person through droplets from the mouth, nose, throat and eyes of a person infected with measles.
To be able to detect the early signs of measles parents are advised to look out for symptoms such as red rash, high fever, runny nose, red and watery eyes and coughing.
Measles vaccination is freely available from public health facilities or clinics.
Measles is associated with some of the worst complications - which include blindness, mental retardation, deafness and even death, particularly among children.
Containing the further spread of the disease requires a collaborative effort involving parents, health-care practitioners and communities.
The public is advised to isolate patients with suspected measles to avoid any contact and possible cross-infection.
Similarly, General Practitioners and Paediatricians are encouraged to report all suspected cases of fever and rash to their nearest Provincial Health Departments.
A warning is also issued to foreign travellers contemplating visiting South Africa on holiday or business to please ensure that they have been fully immunised before entering South Africa.
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Issued by the National Department of Health
Chief Directorate: Communications
Enquiries: Solly Mabotha @ 083 678 9860