Measles claims mom of two
2009-10-23 09:48
Johannesburg – A Potchefstroom mother of two teenage daughters was one of the latest victims of one of the biggest outbreaks of measles to have hit the country in years.
Rina van der Merwe, 35, a receptionist at a doctor's consulting rooms, died after the measles virus presumably spread to her lungs and brain, said her mother, Driekie Plotz, on Thursday.
Van der Merwe apparently started getting diarrhoea on September 23 and started vomiting.
"She became feverish and told me she is going crazy from the headache. On September 29, a doctor had her admitted to the Potchefstroom state hospital after she got the rash the previous day. The doctor said she had a bad case of the measles and that it had already damaged her lungs."
The virus presumably also spread to her brain and she started talking incoherently.
"We were with her still on the Friday evening (October 2), but she spoke with difficulty. It was hardly whispering."
"Early the next morning they told us that she had died. It is a terrible blow for us."
Van der Merwe's two daughters, Charmonic, 16, and Christine, 13, were devastated. They would now stay with their father in Carletonville.
Third booster vaccination
Another mother, Dawn von Wielligh, from Pretoria, said her son, Bertie, 11, was sent to the Kloof hospital earlier this month for four days with meningitis symptoms, after which measles was diagnosed.
"All his vaccinations were up to date, but he still caught the virus."
Bertie was apparently gravely ill. He lay opposite the disabled Sumoné Blignaut, 2, from Rayton who died there on October 7 due to measles bronchopneumonia.
"It was a very emotional time and I do ask all parents to again have their children vaccinated," said Von Wielligh.
There were also others who got measles although their vaccinations were up to date.
Dr Lucille Blumberg of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said earlier it was not clear how this happened.
Two vaccinations were supposed to protect 99% of children and one vaccination 85%. It could be that earlier consignments of the vaccination were not cooled or stored properly.
That is why the department now requested parents to give permission for the third booster vaccination, which pupils were now getting as part of a government campaign.
Meanwhile, eight suspected cases of measles have been reported in Johannesburg prison.
Their laboratory results were still unknown by late on Thursday.
According to the Gauteng health authorities, 1 000 prisoners were vaccinated since Wednesday.