The number of laboratory-confirmed measles cases now stands at 137 in Limpopo as of Tuesday, Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla has announced.

This comes as the Limpopo and Mpumalanga health departments declared measles outbreaks in their provinces.

The minister yesterday updated the media on the progress on various health issues, and said Limpopo and Mpumalanga have since reported 89 and 40 cases, respectively.

Another outbreak was last week Friday declared in the North West after three cases were reported, while three cases were detected in Gauteng on Tuesday.

“The number of measles cases in the country is rising, and so far, four out of nine provinces have outbreaks,” the minister warned.

According to Phaahla, the World Health Organisation defines a measles outbreak as three cases reported in a single district in one month.

“It is imperative to know the signs and symptoms,” he stressed, adding that patients present signs of fever or a rash. They may also have one or more symptoms that include a cough, red eyes and a runny nose.

In addition, complications of measles include pneumonia, diarrhoea, dehydration, encephalitis, blindness and death.

“Measles complications are severe in malnourished children and young infants under two years of age.”

Meanwhile, people of any age who are unvaccinated can be infected and develop the disease.

The age of patients across the country range from two months to 42 years old, while the dominant age category of laboratory-confirmed cases is the five to nine-year age group, which accounts for 56 cases.

The age group is followed by one to four years, which accounts for 40 cases and the least affected age group is zero to one year, which suggests that parents do take their babies for vaccination.

Of the 137 cases, 98 had an unknown vaccination status, 17 were immunised, and 22 were unvaccinated.

He urged clinicians and caregivers to be on the alert for anyone presenting with the aforementioned signs and symptoms.

In addition, he said, Road-to-Health booklets should be checked to ensure measles vaccinations are up-to-date.

Phaahla told the media that provincial and district outbreak teams have been mobilised in line with outbreak response guidelines and have implemented the necessary response measures.

“Contact tracing and active case searches at healthcare facilities are ongoing and blood samples from suspected measles cases are being forwarded to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases.”

In addition, province-wide measles immunisation campaigns have started in Limpopo and Mpumalanga and is following suit, Phaahla added.

The minister also announced that the National Mass Measles Immunisation Campaign, supported by the World Health Organisation is planned for February 6-17, 2023. – SAnews.gov.za