South Africa now faces its fourth outbreak of mainly childhood diseases since last year. This follows the confirmation of a diphtheria outbreak by the National Department of Health last week after cases were recorded in Kwazulu-Natal and in the Western…
As the number of measles cases continues to rise, a national vaccine drive targeting the disease has started earlier in the five provinces battling the outbreak. The health ministry had initially planned to roll out the national vaccine campaign next…
Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla has announced that from early next year, all children aged between five and 11, living with conditions that place them at risk of severe COVID-19 disease, will be eligible for the jab. This comes as…
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases(NICD) has confirmed measles cases in all nine provinces. However, only Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the North West are experiencing actual outbreaks. Health Minister Joe Phaala and his nine provincial health MECs will update the…
Like the rest of the world, South Africa has embarked on urgent measles vaccination catch-up programmes to help minimise the spread of the disease post-COVID-19. Globally, measles vaccination has steadily declined since the pandemic’s beginning in 2020. This decline is…
Limpopo Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba has urged parents, guardians, and caregivers to remain vigilant as more measles cases have spread to other parts of the province. According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases(NICD), the number of laboratory-confirmed cases…
Another four measles cases have been detected in the Greater Sekhukhune District in Limpopo, bringing the total number of cases to seven. Health authorities are now busy with contact tracing and screening for suspected cases.. On Monday, the National Institute…
Following an outbreak of measles cases in Limpopo, an expert from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has warned that similar outbreaks are likely to occur in other parts of the country. A surveillance team from the NICD has…
While the World Health Organisation has raised the alarm about an increase in measles outbreaks globally, South Africa is confident the risks locally are minimal. UNICEF and the WHO reported cases of measles increased by 79 percent globally in January…
