After a confirmed outbreak of measles in Stellenbosch in February 2017, the department of Health Western Cape has issued some presentation of secondary cases of measles cases.
Measles is a viral infection of the respiratory system and is spread either by inhalation of large droplet respiratory secretions or by direct contact with large droplet respiratory secretions.
Indirect contact with example used tissues or freshly soiled articles is less commonly associated with transmission of measles .
Symptoms of measles include sore throat, conjunctivitis (red eyes), fever , dry cough , runny nose and kopliks spots (white spots on the inside of the cheek ).
The average incubation period is 10 -14 days. People are infectious from one day before PRODROME symptoms (period before the rash appears), until 4 days after the rash appears.
Who is susceptible to measles: All those not previously infected or not previously vaccinated. Acquired immunity after infection is LONG lasting but vaccine induced immunity may wane over time…
Why is it dangerous ?
Measles can cause brain damage and blindness in young children and is especially dangerous for pregnant women. It can cause foetal loss, prematurity and perinatal infection.
What can you do to prevent it? The outbreak can be prevented from spreading via various measures.
Keep away from the infectious person until 4 days after the rash appears . Healthy people older than 6 months should receive the MMR vaccine ideally within 3 days of exposure. The MMR vaccine may be given to /hiv infected people with CD4 counts >200 and also to children with HIV infection >6 months and < 5 years with CD4 %>15%
Children and adults with measles should be excluded from work / school / medical offices for 4 days after the rash appears.
Measles is notifiable in South Africa where it is suspected clinically and laboratory confirmed.
