Measles outbreak confirmed in Ekurhuleni: Here's what you need to know
The City of Ekurhuleni in Gauteng has reported a measles outbreak as 80 cases have been confirmed so far.
Measles, a vaccine-preventable disease, is characterised by a maculopapular rash and fever that typically manifests three to five days following the onset of respiratory-like symptoms. Complications, such as diarrhoea, pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death, can arise from this disease.
In a statement on its social media platforms, the City of Ekurhuleni has urged residents to protect their children and the future leaders as it launched a Measles and Rubella Vaccination campaign for children aged six months to 15 years.
The campaign runs until September 12, 2025.
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IOL News
14 hours ago
- IOL News
Measles outbreak confirmed in Ekurhuleni: Here's what you need to know
The City of Ekurhuleni has launched a Measles and Rubella Vaccination Campaign. The City of Ekurhuleni in Gauteng has reported a measles outbreak as 80 cases have been confirmed so far. Measles, a vaccine-preventable disease, is characterised by a maculopapular rash and fever that typically manifests three to five days following the onset of respiratory-like symptoms. Complications, such as diarrhoea, pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death, can arise from this disease. In a statement on its social media platforms, the City of Ekurhuleni has urged residents to protect their children and the future leaders as it launched a Measles and Rubella Vaccination campaign for children aged six months to 15 years. The campaign runs until September 12, 2025.
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Province launches major vaccination drive amid rising measles cases in Tshwane
The Gauteng Department of Health aims to vaccinate over 4 million children aged from six months to under 15 years. The department officially launched its province-wide Mass Measles-Rubella (MR) Vaccination Campaign at Steve Biko Primary School in Orange Farm, Johannesburg, on August 5. The campaign will run for six weeks from August 4 to September 12. While the campaign covers all five districts in Gauteng, Tshwane remains one of the key focus areas due to its high number of confirmed measles cases and identified hotspot zones. The move is a direct response to the ongoing measles outbreak in the province, which has seen a surge in cases since the beginning of the year. Speaking at the launch, Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, reaffirmed the provincial government's commitment to containing the outbreak. 'The Measles-Rubella vaccine is safe, free, and effective in protecting children from severe illness. We urge all parents and guardians to sign consent forms and ensure their children are vaccinated,' she said. Addressing the need for accurate health information, Nkomo-Ralehoko added, 'We also encourage communities to verify health information through official sources, and avoid misinformation circulating on social media.' The significance of the campaign is very visible in Tshwane, where the outbreak has continued along a concerning trajectory. According to the Department of Health, a total of 370 laboratory-confirmed measles cases were reported throughout the province between January 1 and June 30. Many of these originated from Tshwane, particularly in hotspot areas such as Mamelodi and Winterveldt. In June, Motalatale Modiba, the department spokesperson, highlighted the urgency of targeted interventions in hotspots. This localised approach is being strengthened under the current campaign. Despite these efforts, the immunisation coverage in Tshwane remains worryingly low, said Modiba. He emphasised the second-dose coverage for measles sits below 75%, well under the 95% threshold required to prevent outbreaks. Modiba explained that this shortfall has made communities vulnerable not only to recurring infections but also to infections among vaccinated individuals and adults. This is something not typically seen when herd immunity is achieved. The department will closely monitor vaccination uptake across all districts and provide regular updates on progress with the current campaign. The target is to achieve at least 95% coverage across the province, with Tshwane expected to make significant gains due to the focused attention it is receiving. As part of the campaign launch, learners at Steve Biko Primary School were vaccinated on-site, showcasing how quickly the teams are moving to roll out services. Parents and guardians are encouraged by Nkomo-Ralehoko to ensure their children are available for vaccination when school health teams visit. Consent forms must be signed and returned to schools promptly to avoid delays. The department also reminded the public that MR vaccines are available at all public health facilities during the campaign, and are offered free of charge. The campaign is streamlined with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) policies. The NICD urged provinces in June to strengthen measles surveillance and conduct risk assessments for transmission, while implementing public health responses to current outbreaks. The institute also advised that public awareness must be increased in communities to highlight the ongoing outbreak and encourage parents to vaccinate their children. According to the NICD, missed routine measles doses should be caught up to prevent serious complications, including pneumonia, ear infections, diarrhoea, encephalitis, and even death. Clinicians are advised to report suspected cases, collect blood specimens for lab confirmation, and log all cases through the Notifiable Medical Conditions surveillance system of the NICD. The institute also recommends reinforcing routine immunisation services. It said that districts with high incidence rates, such as Tshwane and Johannesburg, should be prioritised. The institute also encourages efforts focusing on tackling vaccine hesitancy and improving reporting of measles symptoms. Continued environmental monitoring, including wastewater surveillance, remains essential to track transmission trends and adjust response measures effectively. For public complaints and compliments, send an email to: [email protected]; send an SMS to 35023 or call the 24-hour customer line on 0800 203 886. ALSO READ: Residents welcome turnaround at Rooihuiskraal garden refuse site Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Gauteng health MEC warns against online vaccine misinformation
Gauteng health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has sounded the alarm on vaccine misinformation, urging parents not to rely on social media for medical advice as the province launches a mass campaign to stop the spread of measles and rubella. Nkomo-Ralehoko was speaking at Steve Biko Primary School in Orange Farm during the launch of the province's Measles-Rubella Mass Vaccination Campaign which aims to immunise more than 4-million children aged between six months and under 15 years by September 12. 'To all parents, I want to assure you that this vaccine is free, effective and safe. Do not listen to fake news or misinformation spreading on social media. The lies you read online can cost a life. If you have doubts, do not go to TikTok or Facebook talk to our health professionals at your nearest clinic or district co-ordinators. They will give you facts, not fear,' said Nkomo-Ralehoko. The six-week campaign which is themed 'Lifelong Protection against Measles and Rubella Disease,' comes as Gauteng battles a measles outbreak with more than 370 confirmed cases so far this year with the hardest-hit areas being Tshwane, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni. 'These are not mere statistics. These are real children who were at risk of facing serious complications if we failed to act now,' she said. She explained that the MR (Measles-Rubella) vaccine is part of the country's regular child immunisation schedule and is typically given at six and 12 months. The campaign is offering a booster dose to strengthen protection and reach children who may have missed their shots. Vaccinations will be administered in schools, crèches, clinics, taxi ranks, malls and even door-to-door in some communities. Hospitals have also set up additional vaccination points and parents have been issued consent forms through schools. 'Our nurses and health teams are ready. I urge parents, caregivers and guardians to please sign and return the consent forms so we can protect our children,' said Nkomo-Ralehoko. She also spoke about the corner-to-corner campaign, which helps health workers review children's road to health booklets and administer catch-up doses. 'Every missed vaccine is an opportunity for measles to spread. Let us not give the disease a chance,' she said. The MEC appealed to the public and institutions to support the campaign calling on the Gauteng education department, NGOs, faith leaders, private hospitals and universities to join the effort.
