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There has been a sharp spike in measles
infections this month, prompting the City's health department to issue an
immunisation call.
THERE is a measles outbreak in Johannesburg and the City
is urging anyone with symptoms to report to a health centre.
Since the beginning of the month, 53 cases
of the disease have been reported. The City's health department says all seven
regions have been affected.
"We want people to check their children's
immunisation cards and ensure that they are fully immunised," said Joburg's
deputy director for communicable diseases, Antonia Barnard.
Children and adults are at risk of
contracting the airborne disease, as evidenced in the reported cases. Barnard
said teenagers were most affected by the outbreak.
The number of cases in September is a sharp
increase from the 11 reported between January and August. "It's mostly
affecting people who have never been immunised and those who have never had
measles ... anyone with symptoms should see a doctor," said Barnard.
Symptoms are fever, rash, runny noise and
red, infected eyes. Measles is a serious disease that can cause blindness,
deafness, brain damage and pneumonia and can even be fatal, if not treated
properly.
An infection of the respiratory system, it
is highly contagious. A characteristic marker of measles is Koplik's spots,
small red spots with blue-white centres that appear inside the mouth.
Rash
The measles rash typically has a red or
reddish brown blotchy appearance, and usually starts on the forehead, then
spreads downwards over the face, neck and body, then down to the arms and feet.
Measles is a notifiable disease and all
suspected cases must be reported to the health department as failure to control
the spread will cause unnecessary suffering and even death, warns the
department.
It will respond by immunising all
identified contacts at home, school and at the workplace. People who have had
contact with an infected person will be given a measles vaccine. The vaccine
must be given to the contacts as soon as possible after exposure to be
effective, adds the department.
Parents are also urged to ensure that their
babies and other children are fully immunised. If they are not sure whether the
children were vaccinated, they are advised to check with their local clinics.
The vaccine, usually given to babies at
nine months and at 18 months, protects against measles. Additional doses, such
as those given during national campaigns, improve immunity against the disease.
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