The North West province has recorded 36 cases of measles and according to the provincial health department, the first verified case of measles occurred in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District at the beginning of December.
Of the 36 confirmed cases, 29 were reported in NgakaModiri Molema, three in Bojanala, two in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati and two in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District.
Prior to the appearance of the rash, measles is believed to be a highly contagious viral disease characterised by high fever, coughing, and runny nose, among other symptoms.
According to the provincial health department, infant mortality rates are highest between the ages of six and eleven months.
Health MEC Madoda Sambatha has urged parents to take their children for immunisation saying the department has enough vaccines to deal with measles in the province..
“We urge our community to share the message and raise awareness about this outbreak and mobilise for more children to be protected through immunisation,” Sambatha said.
According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), in total, 169 confirmed measles cases have been reported from October 11 to December 07 across the North West, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Gauteng.
Ages of cases across the country according to NICD, ranges from two months to 42 years.
“Forty-four cases were in the five to nine years of age group and 28% in the 1-4 years age group. Of the 159 cases, 125 had an unknown vaccination status,18 were vaccinated and 26 were unvaccinated,” NICD said.
