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Only three cases of measles reported thanks to vaccines

───   16:44 Mon, 22 May 2017

Only three cases of measles reported thanks to vaccines | News Article

Bloemfontein - There have only been three cases of measles in the Free State, Northern Cape and North West combined this year.


This comes after the Global/African Vaccination Week highlighted the need for children to get all their scheduled vaccinations to avoid preventable diseases such as measles, polio, and TB. According to the Free State Health Department’s Mondli Mvambi, this low rate is due to more community members sticking to vaccination schedules and an awareness of preventable diseases.

“We are aware that if there is no adherence people fall victim to preventable diseases. The country has made significant progress towards the reduction and elimination of these compared to the rest of the world,” says Mvambi.

In cases where measles is suspected there is a programme in place for preventing outbreaks of the virus. “By the time a measle rash appears it means that the child has already had it for more than seven days. Immediately when a case of measles is suspected, we go out to the household or crèche and draw blood from the child or any other child under the age of five years old that shows symptoms, for confirmation. If any child has missed at least two vaccinations we give them a dose of measles. We do not do this for all children but only the ones who have had immediate contact,” explains Northern Cape Health Department’s Ruth Maboko.


OFM News/Nomaqhawe Mtebele

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