THREE confirmed cases of measles were reported in Aberdeen last week, with the first young child being diagnosed last Monday.
As measles is a notifiable disease, the local clinic immediately contacted the Department of Health in Graaff-Reinet.
From Monday afternoon until Thursday, staff from the local clinic, supported by an outreach team from Graaff-Reinet, went around the town visiting families with young children. All children from six months to five years – ages at which they are particularly vulnerable – were checked, and two further cases were found.
At this point, the outbreak seems to have been contained, and no additional cases have been reported to the Department of Health from any of the neighbouring towns.
A clinic sister advised parents to be alert for signs of lethargy in young children, especially if they have a rash. A characteristic of measles is a rash on the tongue.
Sometimes the child will display a fever, but this is not always the case. Any parent who is concerned should take their child to a doctor or clinic to be checked.
Doctors recommend that all babies should receive their first vaccination at age six months, with a booster at 12 months. Although this will not necessarily prevent the child from catching measles (all three of the children in Aberdeen had been immunised), it should certainly minimise the severity of the illness, and the danger of complications.
