Health Minister Joe Phaahla has expressed concerns over the potential spread of the measles outbreak during the festive season.
There have been 137 cases reported in four provinces- Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West and Gauteng.
Phaahla addressed the media on Thursday on the sidelines of a health ministry meeting in Boksburg.
“Of the 137 cases, 98 had unknown vaccination status, 17 had a history of vaccination, while 22 were unvaccinated,” the minister said.
A total of 56 cases were reported among people between the ages of 5 and 9, while 40 infections were between the ages of 1 and 4.
Newly born babies and children up to the age of one had the least number of infections, which Phaahla attributed to routine vaccinations.
He said there was an ongoing campaign in Limpopo- but, nationally, it would only be rolled out in February next year.
Phaahla said outbreak teams “have been mobilised in line with response guidelines and have implemented the necessary response measures”.
Measles outbreaks have been recorded in in four provinces between 11 October and 6 December 2022.
South African health officials reported elevated measles activity in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, with 99 cases reported between 1 September and 30 November.
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund said that measles was a deadly virus that spreads easily, especially among children.
Symptoms include fever, a dry cough, inflamed and watery eyes, and skin rash.
Phaahla said that at least 139 cases of the virus had been confirmed in South Africa showing that there is a quick spread which needs to be prevented.
“That’s why we agree that over the next week, we need to use all opportunities available to make sure that we can up our vaccination and provide more stock and more personnel to do that.”
Phaahla expressed confidence that the virus can be contained through mass immunisation.
Source: News24, IOL, The Citizen, Eyewitness News, image from Twitter: @Penseuse