Stellenbosch and the surrounding Cape Winelands area is experiencing a rise in measles cases, as confirmed by Sandra Maritz, the communications officer of the Western Cape department of health and wellness to SMF News this week.
If a patient is suspected of having measles, blood is drawn to test for the measles antibody, explains Dr Caitlyn Buisman, a general practitioner at BUISMed Family Doctors. PHOTO: Amahle Thabethe
Kayamandi Primary School had one suspected case of measles last week and the school took immediate action, according to Nangamso Voyiya, a teacher and coordinator for the health and welfare committee at Kayamandi Primary School.
Parents received consent forms to allow their children to be immunised. The school is working with the department of health and wellness to make this happen, said Voyiya.
The immunisation “is for the entire school from Grade R to 7”, said Voyiya. “[The department of health] will come during this week to immunise all the learners, to prevent the measles.”
Brendon Buisman, a general practitioner at BUISMed Family Doctors, lays out the different types of medicines used to symptomatically treat measles. PHOTO: Amahle Thabethe
When asked what steps will be taken to prevent this spread and why it is a recurring issue, the department of health said that this issue is not unique to the Cape Winelands area or the province.
The outbreak results from an overall decline in childhood vaccination, said Maritz.
As of April this year, the number of unvaccinated children in South Africa under the age of one has tripled from 2017. This is according to a statement from the health department reported in an article by Eye Witness News, published in August.
Initially, it was 12%, now 36%. Nationwide, there have been 3 460 confirmed cases of measles since January of this year, according to the article.
“The department has strengthened its response through enhanced disease surveillance, outbreak coordination, community engagement, clinical management of cases, and targeted vaccination outreach campaigns in areas experiencing increased transmission,” said Maritz.
The department urges all parents to ensure that their children are up to date with all the required immunisations and to watch out for the symptoms, seeking medical care immediately if there are signs.
Measles is a contagious virus that is spread through droplets of mucus or saliva. The droplets become airborne when an infected individual breathes, sneezes, or coughs, according to Dr Caitlyn Buisman, a general practitioner at BUISMed Family Doctors.
Dr Brendon Buisman, a doctor at BUISMed Family Doctors, says that measles is treated symptomatically and a drip is administered to treat one of the symptoms if a patient is infected. PHOTO: Amahle Thabethe
“The droplets can actually stay in the air in an enclosed space for up to two hours, and following exposure, 90% of people that don’t have immunity to measles will actually develop measles,” she said.
This virus is contagious five days before the appearance of a rash, said Buisman. It starts off with flu-like symptoms, meaning that it may already be in the bloodstream long before the infected person knows. In that time, they may have already interacted with uninfected people, she said.
The symptoms to look out for include fevers of up to 40°C, low energy, loss of appetite, coughing, a runny nose and conjunctivitis, said Buisman. These symptoms occur before the rash starts.