The Department of Health has called for child immunisation against rubella as cases rise in some provinces around the country. Picture: STOCK IMAGES
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has alerted the Department of Health to the notable rising number of rubella cases in various parts of KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Western Cape and Eastern Cape.
Rubella, otherwise known as German measles, is an infectious disease caused by the rubella virus.
The Department of Health has urged parents and caregivers to ensure children are up to date with vaccination schedules against serious diseases that are prevented by vaccines as the country experiences an increase in rubella cases.
According to the department, it is usually a mild disease in children and adults but can have serious consequences in pregnant women by infecting their unborn babies and causing congenital rubella syndrome.
“The disease primarily spreads through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing and can also be transmitted from mother to foetus during pregnancy,” the department said in a statement.
“It generally causes a mild illness in children and adults, characterised by a low-grade fever, rash, and sometimes joint pain. It can lead to congenital rubella syndrome in the fetus, resulting in death, miscarriages, stillbirth or severe birth defects in infants.The incubation period of rubella ranges from 14 to 21 days.”
All suspected rubella cases should be reported to the nearest health facility or healthcare provider, who will then notify the department using the Notifiable Medical Conditions reporting platforms. In the meantime, the department is currently rolling out the measles-rubella vaccine as part of the Expanded Programme of Immunisation.
This combined vaccine replaces the standalone measles vaccine and is administered at six and 12 months of age. In the private sector, rubella protection is included in the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine, which is typically given between 12 and 15 months of age.
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