The Department of Health is urging Pretoria parents to ensure their children are vaccinated as rubella cases rise in several provinces, including Gauteng and the Western Cape.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases has reported a significant increase in rubella cases, leading to concerns about the spread of this potentially serious disease.

According to Health Departmental spokesperson Foster Mohale, rubella, otherwise known as German measles, is an infectious disease caused by the rubella virus.

” It is usually a mild disease in children and adults but can have serious consequences in pregnant women by infecting their unborn babies and causing congenital rubella syndrome.

“The disease primarily spreads through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing and can also be transmitted from mother to foetus during pregnancy.”

He said it generally causes a mild illness in children and adults, characterized by a low-grade fever, rash, and sometimes joint pain.

“It can lead to congenital rubella syndrome in the foetus, resulting in death, miscarriages, stillbirth or severe birth defects in infants. The incubation period of rubella ranges from 14 to 21 days.”

Mohale said the Department had received inquiries in the recent weeks following the closure of schools in the Northern Cape after a rubella case was detected amongst school learners.

“Although proactive and effective measures to prevent further spread of the disease are always recommended, the school closure should only be implemented as the last resort after all easures have been employed.”

Children who develop symptoms compatible with rubella should be treated symptomatically and remain away from school until they recover.

Here are the symptoms:

• Nausea,
• Sore throat,
• Red eyes,
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck.

“All suspected rubella cases should be reported to the nearest health facility or healthcare provider, who will then notify the Department using the Notifiable Medical Conditions reporting platforms.

“The Department is currently rolling out the measles-rubella vaccine as part of the Expanded Programme of Immunisation.”

Mohale said this combined vaccine replaces the standalone measles vaccine and is administered at 6 and 12 months of age.

In the private sector, rubella protection is included in the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine, which is typically given between 12 and 15 months of age.

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