Publications
The Free State health department has embarked on an intensive measles awareness campaign, as the province is reported to have recorded 22 cases so far.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Cape reported that it was scaling up the immunisation of children aged from six months to 15 years, after it had recorded two measles cases.
Free State health spokesperson Mondli Mvambi said the cases were recorded in four districts and most numbers came from Thabo Mofutsanyana, with 12 cases reported in Bethlehem, one in Qwaqwa, and one each in Reitz, Clocolan and Warden.
Mvambi said the Fezile Dabi district also had a spike in measles cases - with one in Frankfort and three in Kroonstad.
Mvambi said the Free State was implementing a comprehensive response to the measles outbreak and an awareness campaign that should sufficiently empower the community with information, as well as make the public an integral part of the response.
“Our steps taken to address the outbreak are to intensify community education and awareness through health promotion teams regarding adherence to the routine immunisation schedule, and alerts have been issued to facilities to intensify identification of cases,” Mvambi said.
READ: 137 cases of measles reported in SA since October - Phaahla
He added that the education department had issued an alert of the campaign and teachers were requested to be on the alert for pupils who had a fever at 38°C, general rash, cough, runny nose and redness of the eye.
Eastern Cape health department spokesperson Mkhululi Ndamase said the province had recorded two cases in Nelson Mandela Bay, where a 14-year-old girl had just returned from Zanzibar, and a four-year-old in King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality. He mentioned:
Ndamase said health teams had also visited schools to offer the jab and only pupils whose parents or guardians had signed consent forms had been immunised at schools.
Eastern Cape Health MEC Nomakhosazana Meth said 162 vehicles had been hired to be used for measles immunisation.
“We have also trained 436 nurses who have been working in communities, vaccinating children and encouraging parents to get their children protected against measles. Measles is one of the highly contagious diseases and is more easily spread in children under five years and children with comorbidities,” Meth explained.
