Pretoria residents are urged to ensure their children’s measles vaccinations are up to date as the virus continues to circulate in Gauteng, reports Pretoria Rekord.

The latest weekly situation report from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), published on August 24, recorded 215 laboratory-confirmed measles cases in the City of Tshwane, which includes Pretoria, between December 29 last year and August 16 this year.

Of these, 32 cases were recorded during the four weeks from July 19 to August 16, indicating that transmission remains active in the metro.

The NICD defines a laboratory-confirmed measles outbreak as three or more cases recorded in a health district within four weeks. An outbreak is considered over only when no new cases have been reported for 42 days.

Tshwane recorded the highest cumulative number of measles cases in Gauteng, followed by Johannesburg with 195. Ekurhuleni recorded eight cases and the West Rand three during the reporting period.

Overall, Gauteng recorded 423 laboratory-confirmed measles cases between December 29 and August 16, with 16 additional cases reported in the latest week. The NICD cautioned that case numbers may change as further laboratory and provincial information becomes available.

The NICD’s combined clinical and wastewater surveillance also detected measles in clinical cases and wastewater samples in Pretoria during epidemiological week 33, indicating continued circulation of the virus. Measles was also detected in wastewater in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni, despite no clinical cases being recorded in those districts during that particular week.

National cases reach nearly 4 000

Nationally, 3 891 laboratory-confirmed measles cases were recorded between December 29 and August 16 – an increase of 144 cases from the previous weekly report. Gauteng recorded 16 of the new cases reported during the latest week, while the Western Cape recorded 38 and Limpopo 30.

Children aged one to 14 accounted for 2 619 cases, or 67.3% of the national total. A further 477 cases involved babies younger than one, while 794 infections were recorded among people aged 15 and older.

Measles poses severe health risks

According to the NICD, measles is one of the most contagious viruses and spreads when an infected person coughs, sneezes or breathes out tiny droplets containing the virus. These droplets can remain in the air for up to two hours.

Initial symptoms usually include a high fever, dry cough, runny nose, sneezing and red, watery eyes. A red, blotchy rash generally starts on the face before spreading down the body.

The illness can cause serious complications, including pneumonia, diarrhoea, dehydration and encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain. Complications are particularly serious in young children and people with weakened immune systems.

Vaccination offers primary protection

The NICD says measles outbreaks generally occur where vaccination coverage is too low to prevent transmission. Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent measles.

Under South Africa’s public immunisation programme, children receive their first measles vaccine at six months and a second dose at 12 months. In the private sector, the MMR vaccine is generally given at 12 and 18 months.

Parents and carers are encouraged to check their children’s vaccination cards and take those who have missed a scheduled dose to their nearest clinic for catch-up vaccination. The NICD stresses that it is never too late to catch up on a missed measles vaccination.

Anyone who suspects they or their child may have measles should contact a healthcare provider and avoid exposing others, particularly babies, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.

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