Officials from the City of Cape Town’s Health Department are joining a national campaign to curb a measles outbreak. The campaign, from 6 February to 31 March, comes in the wake of a measles outbreak in five provinces.

The Western Cape has not experienced a measles outbreak, but there have been five reported cases in the province.

The national vaccination drive aims to limit the impact of the outbreak experienced in parts of the country.

Children between the ages of six months and 14 years and 11 months will receive an additional measles vaccination at schools, crèches and City of Cape Town clinics.

‘The measles vaccine is very effective at preventing measles, especially when there is a high level of population coverage (over 92% coverage is needed to prevent outbreaks). Currently, children receive the first measles vaccination at the age of 6 months and the second one at 12 months, as part of the national immunisation schedule. However, some children do not receive these vaccinations for a host of reasons. The result is that, every few years there is an outbreak, sometimes even a full-blown epidemic. While we have a good vaccination programme in our country, to ensure adequate vaccine coverage and to prevent outbreaks or epidemics, vaccination campaigns, such as this one, are conducted,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia Van der Ross.

In the coming days, City Health staff will visit public schools and crèches to drop off the measles campaign pamphlets and consent forms.

If a child is absent on vaccination day, parents or caregivers can take the child to their nearest clinic where the additional measles vaccine will be administered.

From 3 October 2022 to 21 January 2023, 406 laboratory-confirmed cases were reported in five provinces with declared measles outbreaks.

This figure excludes the five cases recently confirmed in the Western Cape.

Measles is a highly contagious disease, which is spread by contact with infected droplets that come from the mouth or nose of an infected person when they breathe, cough or sneeze.

It is predominantly a childhood disease, however, adults can contract the virus.

The symptoms include:

A high fever

Runny nose

Cough

Red and watery eyes

A rash that starts appearing after the fever. It looks like small, red, flat spots and starts on the face and upper neck. The rash fades after 5 or 6 days

Tips to care for a child at home who may have measles:

Keep your child away from other people until the rash has cleared up for four days

Keep the room dark where your child is resting

Make sure they drink a lot of clean water

Eat healthy, fresh foods

‘The measles vaccine is safe and effective, and provides lifelong immunity against the disease. We can protect our children from serious complications such as diarrhoea, dehydration, middle ear infection, brain infection (encephalitis), blindness and even death. The vaccine is free at all City clinics so let’s do all we can to ensure they have a healthier future,’ added Councillor Van der Ross.

If your child experiences any major discomfort as a result of the vaccine, visit the nearest doctor or clinic.

Source: City Of Cape Town