Media Statement

30 September 2009

Health Department strengthens plans to contain measles

The Department of Health has embarked on a campaign to respond to the measles outbreak amid the increase in the number of cases reported.

So far a total of 468 confirmed cases have been reported in the country since March/April this year with Gauteng accounting for 422 of those cases. The age range is from 4 months to 56 years with an average age of 12 years old.

Apart from daily contact with the National Institute of Communicable Deseases (NICD) primary and tertiary school children in Gauteng schools have received an additional dose of measles vaccine between 17-28 August. The Department of Health strongly appeals to parents in particular to sign the measles vaccine consent forms as it is against policy to vaccinate without such consent. The experience so far has been parents not signing such forms making it difficult for health care workers to vaccinate. Possible complications of measles could be pneumonia, ear infections, blindness, diarrhoea and even brain damage.

As in all situations of outbreak, the national Department of Health works closely with provincial health Departments and Districts, NICD and WHO as part of its response. The situation even in provinces least affected is being closely monitored and members of the public are advised to consult a health care worker if they suspect that they have symptoms consistent with those of measles.

For more information please contact Fidel Hadebe on 012 312-0663 or 079 517-3333.

Issued by the Department of Health

Attached: Information on Measles (pdf format, 116kb)