Two minor children have been hospitalised in Welkom due to measles complications following a rapid outbreak in the Free State’s district of Lejweputswa. The pair, female twins, have been admitted at the MediClinic in Welkom.
The district is the epicentre of a measles outbreak, with most cases detected among minor children. The Free State’s Department of Health has made a clarion call to parents to vaccinate their children against measles, following a spike in selected municipalities within the district.
Mondli Mvambi, spokesperson for the department, said the number of reported cases have increased after laboratory tests were conducted.
“The patients hospitalised due to measles complications are reported to be stable. The Matjhabeng sub-district in Lejweleputswa remains the most affected, accounting to 40 confirmed measles-positive cases with a high number of unvaccinated cases, followed by the Nala Municipality. Currently, there are 66 laboratory confirmed measles cases by week 27 in the Lejweleputswa District,” he said. By Thursday, 3 July, the number of reported cases stood at 64 (combined) in the affected district.
“From the 66 laboratory confirmed cases, 27 positive cases were fully vaccinated meaning the clients got two doses of the measles vaccine. Of these reported cases, 28 clients’ vaccination status was unknown as the Road to Health booklet was not presented during the health visit,” said Mvambi.
He said the situation remains unchanged in the Tswelopele and Masilonyana local municipalities, as reported cases stood at five and nine, respectively.
