The Western Cape is seeing an increase in measles outbreaks in urban areas such as Kraaifontein Khayelitsha, Mfuleni, Eerste River, Mitchells Plain, Kraaifontein, and Wesbank.
According to the department, the increase in measles cases is not unique to the Western Cape as South Africa is currently facing a decline in childhood vaccination uptake which poses a serious risk for public health and threatens the country’s efforts to eliminate vaccine preventable diseases.
This decline contributed to multiple outbreaks of measles, rubella, and diphtheria across the province, signalling serious gaps in population immunity, the department said in a statement.
“Ensuring immunisation coverage across the province remains a top priority of the Western Cape health and wellness department. Since October 2024, the department has ramped up its immunisation efforts to protect young children from serious and life-threatening vaccine-preventable diseases.”
To department is working with the national health department SAHPRA to maintain sufficient measles vaccination stock and has implemented an early warning and response system that includes surveillance and community engagement. Targeted vaccination outreaches will be prioritised in the areas where we see a rapid increase in measles cases.
Protect your child from measles
Measles is a highly contagious disease that infects the respiratory tract. Symptoms of measles include high fever, rash, runny nose, conjunctivitis and coughing. Healthcare practitioners can diagnose measles on signs and symptoms and a blood sample collected for laboratory testing.
“We ask that parents look out for measles symptoms and keep their children home when they have one or more of these symptoms so that we can curb the spread of this highly contagious disease. Should your child run a fever, feel sleepy or struggle to eat, take them to the nearest clinic immediately. Potential complications of measles include pneumonia, diarrhoea, brain infection, and blindness. Complications are more serious in those who catch measles as young infants under 2 years of age, and in children who are malnourished.”
Health authorities urge parents not to assume their children are immune. Parents are encouraged to protect their children by ensuring they receive routine immunizations and by signing consent forms when school vaccination teams visit their children’s schools.
Free childhood vaccines are available at all public health facilities, and catch-up doses can be given if a child has missed a vaccination.
