Health team dispatched to EL

2008-10-11 20:20

Johannesburg - A team of about 20 health workers has been dispatched to East London after a case of measles was reported there, the Eastern Cape health department said on Saturday.

Spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said a two-year-old child was diagnosed with measles on Friday.

She is not considered under any threat, said Kupelo.

However he said parent should be proactive and have their children immunised.

"If we immunise children it guarantees their safety. So let's not wait, but be proactive and have them immunised."

The team would conduct a human relations and immunisation campaign in Jabavu and Gompo settlements.

The move was aimed at preventing further occurrences of the disease.

The campaign would target children from six-months-old up to 14-year-old.

The team would remain until Friday next week.

Parents were urged to take their children to the team so that as many children as possible could be immunised.

The teams would work out of mobile stations.

Kupelo urged parents to take children with high temperature or fever to the nearest facility immediately.

- SAPA