By Dolly Menas

Copyright namibian

Health minister Esperance Luvindao says a measles outbreak has been confirmed in the Opuwo district of the Kunene region.

In a statement released on Wednesday morning, Luvindao says the outbreak in the district was confirmed on 12 September after the Ministry of Health and Social Services recorded 20 cases of measles at Opuwo.

“A laboratory investigated and 10 tested positive. All cases are in stable condition, and no death was reported. As per our national guideline, when two cases out of five suspected measles cases are laboratory confirmed, this translates into a measles outbreak,” she says.

The ministry says measles is a highly contagious viral disease that mainly affects children but can also occur in unvaccinated teenagers and adults.

It spreads through coughing, sneezing and close contact with infected people. Symptoms of measles usually begin 10 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. A rash is the most visible symptom.

Early symptoms usually last four to seven days, and these include: fever, running nose, cough, red and watery eyes and small, white spots inside the cheeks.

“Most deaths from measles are due to complications related to the disease, including blindness, encephalitis (an infection causing brain swelling and potentially brain damage), severe diarrhoea and related dehydration, ear infections, and severe breathing problems including pneumonia.

“Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease, and part of the routine vaccination programme provides two doses of measles vaccine to children, one at the age of nine months and one at the age of 15 months,” the ministry says.

The measles vaccine is provided by the private health sector.

“However, a high percent of the confirmed measles cases are not vaccinated. This highlights the importance of childhood vaccinations and the roles they play in preventing childhood illnesses,” notes the ministry.

The ministry assured the public that adequate measures are being taken, including strengthening surveillance activities to be able to timely detect further cases; intensified public awareness and education in the Opuwo district, and the ramping up of measles vaccination campaigns in the areas where cases are reported – covering children from six months to 15 years.

“As of 12 September, 1 525 children were vaccinated,” says the ministry.

Measles vaccination covering the entire Opuwo district is planned starting from Wednesday to Friday, 3 October, targeting over 28 000 children.

The Opuwo district community is urged to cooperate with health workers during the vaccination campaign and take all eligible children for vaccination.

Parents and caregivers countrywide are strongly encouraged to ensure their children are up to date with measles vaccinations and other childhood vaccinations. The ministry further urges parents and caregivers to take children to the nearest health facility immediately if they present with fever and rashes.