Gauteng Province is cuurently experienceing an outbreak of measles which to date has seen a total of 1 034 cases with a majority of them (51%) being from the Tshwane district. The outbreak commenced in March in Tshwane and has subsequently also led to a number of small cases (99) being reported in other provinces of South Africa.
Different age distribution patterns have been observed throughout the province and the most affected age group being adolescents aged between 15 to 19 years for Tshwane and 6 to 11 months for Johannesburg.
In response to this outbreak the department of health has embarked on measles immunisation campaign in Gauteng Province with target groups being creches for 9 months to 5 year olds, school going children aged 5 to 20 years and babies from 6 months of age if admitted in hospitals. The campaign has been running from the 12th October and is expected to continue till the 30th October 2009.
