An outbreak of German measles was reported at the Phillipsvale Primary School in Phillipstown in the Northern Cape.
Geoffrey van der Merwe, media liaison officer of the Northern Cape Department of Education, said the local Masibambane Clinic has so far recorded 26 confirmed laboratory cases of German Measles, which is a contagious viral infection, best known by its distinctive red rash.
“We have engaged with the Department of Health and agreed that the school will be closed for five days to allow for fumigation and prevent the further spread of the virus,” said Van der Merwe.
“This school closure will also provide the opportunity for learners to quarantine themselves, reducing the risk of further transmission.”
Van der Merwe said although the Department of Education understand that this situation may cause inconvenience and disruption to the school’s academic schedule, the safety and health of the learners and staff are top priority.
“The district office will support the school with the implementation of its academic recovery plan to ensure that no learner’s academic performance is negatively affected,” he said.
More on German measles
German Measles, also known as rubella or three-day measles, is a contagious disease caused by the rubella virus.
German measles and measles are not the same.
According to the website of Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, most people – especially children – who get rubella usually have a mild illness, with symptoms that can include a low-grade fever, sore throat, and a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. It lasts about three days.
Other symptoms that may occur one to five days before the rash appears include:
- a low-grade fever;
- headache;
- mild pink eye (redness or swelling of the white of the eye);
- general discomfort;
- swollen and enlarged lymph nodes;
- cough; and
- a runny nose.
About 25 to 50% of people infected with rubella will not experience any symptoms.
Holds danger for pregnant women, developing baby
Rubella can however be dangerous for pregnant woman and her developing baby, especially in the first 12 weeks.
When a pregnant woman gets infected with rubella, it can cause a miscarriage or serious birth defects in the developing baby.
These birth defects can include heart problems, loss of hearing or eyesight, intellectual disabilities, or liver or spleen damage.
If you get rubella or are exposed to rubella while pregnant, contact a doctor immediately.
The best protection against rubella is a measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
