29 Aug 2024 | 09:12 AM UTC
South Africa: Elevated rubella activity reported nationwide, especially in the Western Cape, in August
Elevated rubella activity reported nationwide in South Africa in August. Confirm vaccination; use basic health precautions.
Health officials have reported elevated rubella activity across South Africa, with a total of 2,059 cases reported Jan. 1- Aug. 27. This is compared to 15 cases reported over a similar period in 2023. The most affected province is the Western Cape (763 cases), followed by the Eastern Cape (513 cases), Gauteng (371 cases), Northern Cape (214 cases), Kwazulu-Natal (139 cases), Free State (26 cases), North West (17 cases), Mpumalanga (13 cases), and Limpopo (3 cases). Health officials advise pregnant women in their first trimester to be vigilant and take precautions against rubella, as contracting the virus could result in congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in the baby. Healthcare workers are urged to be vigilant for rubella symptoms and ensure appropriate diagnostic testing is conducted. This report represents the most complete data available as of Aug. 29.
Visit a doctor to ensure vaccination against rubella or immunity through previous infection. Emphasize basic health precautions, especially frequent hand washing with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable. If you suspect rubella infection, call ahead before visiting a doctor to prevent the spread of the disease at clinics or hospitals.
In South Africa, cases typically peak during late winter and early spring. The rubella vaccine is only available in the private health care sector of South Africa in combination with measles and mumps (MMR). The case counts for previous years were roughly 1,496 cases in 2019, 141 cases in 2020, 770 cases in 2021, 23 cases in 2022, and 870 cases in 2023.
Rubella - also known as German measles - is a highly contagious illness transmitted by respiratory droplets created when an infectious person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. Symptoms generally appear 14 days after exposure and usually start with a rash that begins on the face, and then spreads to the rest of the body, followed by a fever, runny nose, and/or sore throat. Infection can be particularly severe in pregnant women, leading to birth defects such as delayed development, eye defects, and deafness. Rubella infection can be prevented by vaccination.
