The National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NICD) has warned that the number of measles cases in the country remains a concern.
Source: Dynamedex.
This is the result of an outbreak with more than 300 confirmed cases in five out of nine states. Affected provinces are Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Gauteng and Free State.
Most of the confirmed measles cases, 44%, affect children aged 5 to 9 years, about 28% of cases are in children aged 1 to 4 years, and the rest are aged 10 to 42 years. is a child of , confirmed by UNICEF SA.
Schools in South Africa are now reopening for the 2023 school year, and teachers have been warned to be on the lookout for measles symptoms in learners.
Ministry of Health Foster Mohale said learners showing symptoms should be sent home to contain the spread.
UNICEF SA urges frontline health workers, social workers, community, faith and civil society leaders, educators and early childhood development professionals to keep a close eye on anyone showing symptoms and, if possible, Advised to report to the nearest medical facility as soon as possible. .
“Measles is an acute viral respiratory disease. It is characterized by fever (up to 40.5 degrees Celsius) and malaise, cough, coryza, prodrome of conjunctivitis – three Cs – … Koplik’s spots, followed by macula. Papules and rashes. The rashes usually appear about 14 days after a person is exposed,” explains the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Patients are considered contagious from 4 days before to 4 days after the rash appears.
#measles Cases increase in ���� – supported by UNICEF @HealthZA Improving immunization systems and driving demand for vaccines, including providing cold chain equipment to 2000 health facilities.Danke @GermanyDiplo @AA_stabilisiert @GermanEmbassySA to help protect #EveryChild! pic.twitter.com/hnoRGIodQw
— UNICEF South Africa (@UNICEF_SA) December 23, 2022
UNICEF said in a media statement that routine measles 1 and 2 vaccination coverage was consistently lower than optimal, increasing the risk of infection and the spread of the disease. Stated. “Covid-19 has further disrupted childhood immunization in South Africa, but catch-up campaigns in late 2020 and 2021 have allowed a recovery to levels close to pre-Covid levels. ”
The NICD emphasizes that prevention and control of measles epidemics can only be achieved through vaccination.
Immunization records under review
“Parents and caregivers are encouraged to check their child’s immunization records to ensure that they have received the measles vaccine. It is never too late to be vaccinated. Children over six months old who do not have the vaccine will receive the measles vaccine free of charge.
As part of its response to the outbreak, UNICEF SA is using ‘The Track’, a multimedia messenger to navigate hotspot areas, provide life-saving information, and reach out to communities through health workers and other partners. are collaborating with UNICEF SA is also working with partners, including UNICEF offices in neighboring countries, to monitor and support the necessary response across borders.
UNICEF thanked the governments of Germany and Japan for their generous support to support and strengthen South Africa’s vaccine cold chain, management and risk communication, and community engagement activities.
NICD understands that state health departments have initiated or are planning vaccination campaigns. even though it appears to be declining compared to
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— Gavi, Vaccine Alliance (@gavi) January 12, 2023
The World Health Organization (WHO) said the immunization campaign was launched on the back of a 400% increase in measles cases, as preventable diseases exploded in Africa due to delays in immunizing children. I plan to
Twenty African countries reported measles outbreaks in the first quarter of 2022, eight more than in the first three months of 2021.
The World Health Organization and UNICEF announced last April in Geneva that measles cases worldwide will surge by nearly 80% by 2022.
UNICEF SA said about 25 million children worldwide miss life-saving vaccines each year.
According to information released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, measles is caused by a single-stranded enveloped RNA virus with one serotype.
“It is classified in the genus Morbillivirus in the family Paramyxoviridae.
“Humans are the only natural hosts for the measles virus.”
