By NewsDesk  @bactiman63

In a follow-up on the measles outbreak situation in Limpopo province, South Africa,  the National Institute for Communicable Diseases reports Limpopo province now has two districts affected by measles outbreaks, Greater Sekhukhune and Mopani, as of November 3.

Laboratory-confirmed measles cases in the Greater Sekhukhune district have increased to 16 and in the Mopani district to 7.

The laboratory confirmed measles cases in the Mopani district were in the Greater Giyani and Ba-Phalaborwa. There was an epidemiological link between two laboratory-confirmed measles in Greater Sekhukhune and three in Mopani.

The laboratory-confirmed measles infections were identified in 13 males and 10 females between the ages of 6 months and 24 years in the Greater Sekhukhune district, and 2 to 42 years in the Mopani district.  In combination for both districts, 20 (87%) of the 23 measles cases were below 15 years. No deaths or other complications from measles were reported after two children admitted with the virus were discharged from the hospital. Two children with measles infection were not vaccinated, three were fully vaccinated with two measles doses and eleven the measles vaccination histories were unknown in Greater Sekhukhune district. All seven measles cases in the Mopani district had unknown history.

Affected districts are continuing with the public health response, tracing laboratory-confirmed measles cases and vaccinating their contacts.  A measles vaccination catch-up dose is given in the health facilities for the children who missed the measles vaccination to increase immunity in the communities.