Minister of Health Joe Phaahla is concerned about the worsening outbreak of measles in the country, he told the media in Boksburg on Thursday, where he was giving an update on various health issues.
Phaahla told the media conference that Limpopo and Mpumalanga have since reported 89 and 40 cases of measles, respectively.
“Another outbreak was declared in the North West on December 2 2022 after three cases were reported, while three cases were detected in Gauteng on December 6,” Phaahla said.
“The number of measles cases in the country is rising, and so far four out of nine provinces have reported outbreaks.”
According to Phaahla, the World Health Organisation defines a measles outbreak as three or more reported cases in a single district in a month.
During the briefing, the minister revealed that 139 cases of measles have been confirmed around the country.
“That’s why we agree that over the next week, we need to use all opportunities available to make sure that we can up our vaccination and provide more stock and more personnel to do that,” he said.
He further urged the clinicians and caregivers to be on high alert for anyone presenting with signs and symptoms of the disease, which include fever or rash, a cough, red eyes, and a runny nose.
Phaahla added that measles immunisation campaigns have already started in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, and expressed his confidence that the department will be able to contain the virus through mass immunisation.
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