Measles cases spike in Gauteng as parents opt not to jab their children
There is a spike in measles cases in Gauteng, with 10 cases all connected to a family with children who were not vaccinated due to their religion. This increase in cases has led the department of health in Gauteng to embark on a mass vaccination campaign at schools and crèches, to prevent an outbreak of the highly infectious disease. Measles is one the of most infectious diseases in the world and can be deadly or cause brain swelling‚ brain damage‚ pneumonia and blindness. The disease‚ which causes a rash and flu-like symptoms‚ is spread when a person coughs or sneezes, and the virus can live on surfaces for few hours. An emergency campaign will ensure all children in schools and crèches are given the measles vaccination, regardless of whether or not they were vaccinated as infants. The Gauteng campaign will vaccinate all children at schools‚ aged from six months to 15 years old‚ until May 26. National Institute of Communicable Diseases spokesperson Prof Lucille Blumberg said there ...
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