The current measles outbreaks started in August of 2003 in Gauteng and Mpumalanga Provinces, and has since then spread countrywide with nearly every province being affected. In 2004 a considerable number of children below 9 months of age were diagnosed as measles positive cases.
Thus, the WHO, NICD and the Gauteng Provincial Department of Health conducted a survey to investigate the possible causes of the outbreak. The survey was over a period of two weeks, from the 23rd May to 3rd June 2005, and was in the form of interviews. These study was conducted in order to assist the national Department of Health in dealing directly with the current problem, decrease the disease burden and also to prevent future outbreaks of measles.
