Tshwane has confirmed 11 measles patients so far, out of the 86 in the province, the GP health department has said.

Spokesperson Motalale Modiba said Ekurhuleni registered the highest number with 62 while nine were from Johannesburg and West Rand has four.

“To date, over 1 371 055 children have been immunised across the province. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to sign consent forms permitting school health teams to administer measles immunisation to their little ones.”

He further encouraged parents whose children were not attending early childhood development centres or schools to take them to the nearest clinics in order to be immunised.

Modiba also thanked parents that took the time to take their children for immunisation.

“The department would like to extend its gratitude to all those that heeded the call of immunising their children.”

The department plans to vaccinate over four million children to curb the spread of the disease. Any child between the ages of six months and 15 years is eligible.

Modiba further urged parents, guardians, and caregivers to sign the consent forms their children bring home for them to get immunised, saying that it was imperative that parents and the government protect children against measles.

Earlier this month the department said it planned to vaccinate 95% of children in the province.

According to the department, measles is highly transmissible illness that could spread easily in schools.

National institute for communicable diseases said measles was most common in children aged between five to nine years.

In addition, the department warned that adults who had not had the disease or hadn’t been vaccinated could be infected.

Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, sneezing, and a sore throat.

Measles spreads by contact with saliva or mucus droplets from the mouth or nose of an infected person when they sneeze or cough.

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