Published Date: 2010-02-22 14:30:09
Subject: PRO/EAFR> Measles - South Africa (06): (North West)
Archive Number: 20100222.205676

MEASLES - SOUTH AFRICA (06): (NORTH WEST PROVINCE)
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Date: Sat 20 Feb 2010
Source: SABC News (South African Broadcasting Corporation) [edited]
http://www.sabcnews.com/portal/site/SABCNews/menuitem.5c4f8fe7ee929f602ea12ea1674daeb9/?vgnextoid=56ca0c4a599e6210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=default&channelPath=home



Measles scare: North West province
----------------------------------
Over 20 people were admitted at the Ganyesa Hospital in North West
Province after 90 people were treated for a suspected outbreak of
measles at Piet Plessis near Vryburg. The 1st case of suspected
measles was reported in the area at the beginning of the month
[February 2010]. Now, the situation has worsened since last week
[week ending 14 Feb 2010] when the local clinic could no longer cope
with the high numbers of patients.

Teaching and learning have also been disrupted at Reitshokile
Combined School since last week [week ending 14 Feb 2010] when over
100 learners were treated for suspected measles by the local clinic.
The local clinic could no longer cope with the high number of
patients after running out of medication apparently due to the high
number of patients. Piet Plessis clinic is about 80 km [50 mi] away
from the nearest Ganyesa Hospital. Learners were treated for the
disease and they were sent back home because lack of health
facilities.

The provincial department's Tebogo Lekgethwane says they will deploy
additional personnel should the current numbers increase. Most of the
learners who have been sent back home for recuperation came from poor
families and their parents do not have any income. Some also do not
qualify for the government's social grants because they do not have
identity documents.

The Health Department established a task team to monitor the
situation with the intention of coming up with alternative measures
of relief should the need arise.

--
Communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[According to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD)
report dated 18 Feb 2010, measles cases were first confirmed in the
North West Province in epidemiological week 11 of last year [9-15 Mar
2009]. With 583 measles confirmed cases, North West Province is the
3rd most affected in South Africa after Gauteng (4391) and Kwa-Zulu
Natal (682). Most of the confirmed cases in North West Province
originate from Bojanala Platinum district
(http://www.nicd.ac.za/measles_out/measles_current.pdf). The
reports highlight the need to improve measles vaccination coverage in
the country through routine and Supplementary Immunization (SIA)
Activities. Previous reports (see ProMED EAFR posting
20100202.205246) have indicated that a multi-phased polio, measles
immunization campaign is slated for this month (February 2010).

A map of South Africa showing the provinces can be seen at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_South_Africa and the
HealthMap/ProMED interactive map of the country is available at
http://healthmap.org/r/017V. - Mod.JFW]

See Also

[Measles - South Africa (05) 20100212.205479
Measles - South Africa (04): (Eastern Cape) 20100207.205328
Measles - Namibia (02): (Kunene) 20100204.205285
Measles - South Africa (03): (Western Cape) 20100202.205246
Measles - South Africa (02): update 20100122.205080
Measles - Zimbabwe (03): update 20100121.205063
Measles - Zimbabwe (02): update 20100120.205034

[Additional background information on cholera is available from the
general ProMED-mail list. The postings below can be found at
http://www.promedmail.org. - Mod.JFW

[Measles, adoptee - USA: (AZ), alert 20100213.0511
Measles - Africa (06): South Africa 20100212.0503
Measles - Australia (02): (QL) alert, RFI 20100211.0488
Measles - Australia: (QL) alert, RFI 20100210.0463
Measles - Africa (06): Nigeria (BY) 20100202.0360
Measles - Africa (05): South Africa (Cape) alert 20100202.0358
Measles - Africa (04): Nigeria (BY) RFI 20100129.0317
Measles - Africa (03): Zimbabwe (MV) 20100120.0232
Measles - Africa (02): Zimbabwe 20100120.0229
Measles - Africa: Namibia (KU) 20100117.0195
...................................jfw/mj/be

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From promed-eafr-bounces@promedmail.org Mon Feb 22 14:40:43 2010