Health Minister Joe Phaahla said the disease, which had been mainly concentrated in Limpopo, had now started to spread to other provinces, including Gauteng and the north-west.
Health Minister Joe Phaahla. Image: @GCISMedia/Twitter
JOHANNESBURG – Health Minister Joe Phaahla has expressed concern about the possible worsening of the measles outbreak over the holiday season.
Phaahla addressed the media on the sidelines of a health ministry meeting in Boksburg on Thursday.
He said the disease, which had been mainly concentrated in Limpopo, had now started to spread in other provinces, including Gauteng and the north-west.
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund said measles is a deadly virus that spreads easily, especially among children.
READ: Health experts warn of a possible measles outbreak beyond Limpopo
Symptoms include fever, dry cough, swollen and watery eyes, and rash.
Health Minister Joe Phaahla said at least 139 cases of the virus had been confirmed in South Africa.
“That’s why we agree that over the next week, we need to use every opportunity available to make sure we can ramp up our vaccination and provide more stocks and more staff to do it.”
READ: Measles outbreak: Health experts call for greater access to vaccines
Measles can be spread in a number of ways, including skin-to-skin contact and touching a contaminated surface.
Phaahla has expressed confidence that they will be able to contain the virus through mass immunizations.
.
