Johannesburg - A new threat of a measles outbreak in the South African city of Cape Town has been announced following closely on a similar outbreak, which started in Gauteng province last year.
Western Cape province authorities have reported at least over 100 cases of measles in Cape Town since October 2009. The reports said the majority of the cases were children under the age of five and health workers.
South Africa had already planned a nationwide measles and polio campaign in April this year, but the Cape Town authorities are already taking extra-precaution and strict monitoring of the disease ahead of the national campaign.
Parents of under-five children have also been urged to ensure that their children have been vaccinated and report unusual rash occurrences to the nearest clinics.
Cape Town is one of the cities that will be hosting the 2010 World Cup games.
Measles is an acute infection caused by the measles virus and is one of the most infectious of all agents. The illness is characterised by a cough, runny nose, fever and a blotchy red rash typical to measles that appears several days after the initial symptoms.
The rash first develops in the facial area, with swelling of the eyes, conjunctiva, and a redness of the mouth. The rash then spreads over the body within three to seven days.
Measles is most severe in children who are malnourished, with the highest fatality rates occurring in malnourished children under the age of one. Measles is also more severe in adults than in children over two years of age.
Since the beginning of September 2009, Johannesburg reported about 48 cases of measles. Soon after the outbreak, the government ordered that all children be vaccinated. Vaccination programs were then initiated in all schools and parents of young children were advised to have them vaccinated.
Many people were not willing to have the vaccination done, as it is believed to be unsafe and ineffective. The Health Department assured the public that their program was indeed safe. Speculation arose as to whether or not new needles were being used.
By mid-October there were at least 940 recorded cases, and four deaths.
