The Ministry of Health and Social Services has reported a measles outbreak in the Omaruru district of the Erongo region.
The ministry said in a statement on Thursday the district has investigated 39 suspected cases from January this year.
The first positive case was confirmed from a cluster of 10 suspected cases in March 2024, prompting the district to conduct contact tracing for additional cases in April 2024.
The majority of the 39 suspected cases were reported at the Okongue clinic, located 120 kilometres from Omaruru. All cases involved primary school pupils.
“Blood samples were drawn from the suspected cases, which yielded five additional positive cases. A total of six measles cases were thus laboratory-confirmed – three males and three females. The confirmed cases range between seven years and 12 years,” said the statement.
According to the national integrated disease surveillance and response guideline, two or more confirmed measles’ cases reported in one geographical area within a period of one month constitute an outbreak. Thus, a measles outbreak is confirmed in Omaruru district, said the statement.
It said all confirmed cases are currently stable, or have recovered. No hospitalisations or deaths have been recorded due to the outbreak.
“A regional emergency response team was activated, contact tracing of cases and testing of contacts is ongoing, and health education is provided to pupils and teachers at the school hostel and the community as part of our response towards the outbreak,” read the statement.
It went on to say measles is a highly contagious, serious disease caused by a virus, in the paramyxovirus family and is normally passed on through direct contact and air droplets.
“The virus infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body,” added the statement.
Those at risk of contracting measles are unvaccinated young children, unvaccinated pregnant women and any immunosuppressed person.
The public is urged to maintain good hygiene and sanitation, avoid overcrowding, especially in households. If a person experiences signs and symptoms, they should visit the nearest health facility. Measles’ outbreaks can result in epidemics that cause many deaths, especially among young, malnourished children,” said the statement.
– Nampa