Measles cases detected in Sekhukhune

Alverton

The Measles surveillance at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), said it has detected three cases of measles from two healthcare facilities in the Sekhukhune District.

According to the NICD, the measles cases were confirmed from two children, aged 11, one year old and 11 months old baby, respectively with two cases not vaccinated for measles and one case with unknown measles vaccination status.

Measles is a viral infection that’s serious for small children but is easily preventable by a vaccine. It is a highly infectious and spreads rapidly from person to person and persons of any age who are not vaccinated can catch measles and develop a disease. The disease spreads through the air by respiratory droplets produced from coughing or sneezing.

Following the outbreak, MEC for Health Department in Limpopo, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, led a measles vaccination drive at Bohlale Day Care Centre in Alverton Village and at the Tubatse Radio in Burgersfort, Fetakgomo-Tubatse Local Municipality.

Ramathuba encouraged parents to take their children for measles vaccination at their nearest clinics.

“If you see any person presents with fever, malaise, cough, conjunctivitis, and running nose, we should immediately visit our nearest health care facilities for medical care. We encourage parents to bring their children to the nearest clinic for measles vaccination catch-up if they have missed the 6 months and 12 months measles program. Let’s help prevent the spread of measles outbreak,” she said.

The measles vaccination drive was also conducted at Shopiane Primary School, Maelibe Primary School and Kgahlanong Secondary Schools respectively.

A total of 276 children were vaccinated for measles during the day, with twenty one children who took the vaccine ranges from one day to 12 months and 255 of the other vaccinated group ranges from one year to 15 years.