The Free State has not recorded any deaths due to measles and complications arising from the disease, despite a spike in infections since the outbreak in December. The first five cases were recorded in Bethlehem.
The Department of Health has confirmed the status quo and that a great number of cases have been recorded, highlighting Bethlehem as the focal point.
Measles cases were also recorded in, among others, the following towns: Frankfort, Welkom, Kroonstad, Rosendal, Reitz, Ficksburg and Springfontein.
The department has intensified vaccination campaigns aimed at curbing the spread of measles. Vaccination started early in January and is set to continue until the end of February, in line with the national measles campaign.
Mondli Mvambi, spokesperson for the department, has urged parents and guardians to take children for immunisation at facilities earmarked for participation in the campaign.
“Parents are encouraged to ensure that children adhere to all the immunisation schedules as per the Road to Health booklet,” he said.
Mvambi said the department had teams conducting vaccinations in the province.
Parents whose children are between the ages of six months and 15 years are strongly encouraged to ensure children are vaccinated with immediate effect.
The clarion call to have children vaccinated is due to the serious health threats the disease poses to unvaccinated children.
Common symptoms to be aware of include a fever of 38 °C or higher, a general rash, a cough, a runny nose, and redness of the eyes.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), measles is one of the leading causes of death among young children, even though a safe and cost-effective vaccine is available.
The body has warned that the disease is highly contagious. It reported that in 2018 there were more than 140 000 measles-related deaths globally, mostly among children younger than five years.
According to the global health body, unvaccinated young children and unvaccinated pregnant women are at the highest risk of measles and its complications, including death.
The organisation stated that measles vaccinations resulted in a 73% drop in measles deaths between 2000 and 2018, globally.
In 2018, about 86% of the world’s children received one dose of the measles vaccine by their first birthday through routine health services – up from 72% in 2000.
The agency reported that from 2000 to 2018, measles vaccination prevented an estimated 23,2 million deaths, making this vaccine one of the best buys in public health.
Unvaccinated young children and unvaccinated pregnant women are at the highest risk of measles.
– World Health Organization (WHO)
