Published Date: 2010-03-16 17:19:20
Subject: PRO/EAFR> Measles - South Africa (10): (Western Cape)
Archive Number: 20100316.206161
MEASLES - SOUTH AFRICA (10): (WESTERN CAPE)
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Date: Mon 15 Mar 2010
Source: IOL (Independent Online, South Africa), The Cape Argus (South
Africa) report [edited]
http://www.iol.co.za/general/news/newsprint.php?art_id=vn20100315122804870C621821&sf=
At least 8 children have died in the Western Cape in the measles
outbreak that has put the province's health services under pressure.
At least 765 cases of measles have been reported in the Western Cape
since the outbreak in September [2009].
Steyn said 8 measles deaths had been confirmed in the province by
last Wednesday [10 Mar 2010]. Steyn said that because the measles
outbreak coincided with the diarrhoea season, health services had
been under significant and increased pressure due to an upsurge in
patient numbers.
She said diarrhoea, as one of the measles complications, could
contribute to deaths associated with measles as well as those linked
to pneumonia. The latest measles-related death was that of a
1-year-old boy with TB complications, who died in Tygerberg
Hospital's intensive care unit on Wednesday [10 Mar 2010].
Both Tygerberg and Somerset hospitals have special isolation wards to
deal with serious measles cases. On Friday [12 Mar 2010] the
Tygerberg ward had 15 patients, while Somerset Hospital had 31.
[Byline: Sipokazi Maposa]
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Communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[The measles outbreak in Western Cape that has been attributed to low
program immunization coverage, surges on. Good enough the vaccination
campaign was slated for 8 Mar 2010 with the aim of protecting the
most vulnerable age groups.
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/018L. - Mod.JFW]