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The Department of Health has issued a call to parents and caregivers to ensure that their children are up to date with vaccinations, especially against rubella, as the country faces a surge in cases across several provinces.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has reported a significant increase in rubella cases in Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal. Rubella, commonly known as German measles, is a viral infection that typically presents as a mild illness in children and adults but poses serious risks as it can cause congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in unborn babies, potentially leading to severe birth defects, miscarriages, or stillbirths.
The disease spreads primarily through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing and can also be transmitted from a pregnant mother to her fetus. Symptoms usually include a low-grade fever, rash, and occasionally joint pain. However, in some cases, it can also cause more severe symptoms, especially in pregnant women.
In response to the rising cases, the department has emphasized the importance of vaccinations, particularly the measles-rubella vaccine, which is part of the Expanded Programme of Immunisation. This combined vaccine, which replaces the standalone measles vaccine, is administered at six and twelve months of age. In the private healthcare sector, protection against rubella is included in the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine, typically given between twelve and fifteen months of age.
Recent concerns have been raised following the closure of schools in the Northern Cape due to a rubella outbreak among students. The department advises that while school closures may be considered, they should be a last resort after all other preventive measures have been implemented. Children showing symptoms such as nausea, sore throat, red eyes, or swollen lymph nodes should be treated and kept at home until fully recovered.
The department also stresses the importance of reporting any suspected rubella cases to the nearest health facility for proper tracking and response.
Parents and caregivers are urged to be vigilant and to ensure that their children receive all recommended vaccinations to protect against rubella and other preventable diseases, thereby contributing to the overall health and safety of the community.