Rubella

2024 - 12 - 19

Rubella: South Africa's Latest Viral Gatecrasher!

rubella outbreak Congenital Rubella Syndrome - Gauteng - Immunity Gap - Measles - NICD - Public Health Alert - Rubella Outbreak - Vaccination - Western Cape - rubella outbreak

Hold onto your hats, South Africa! A rubella outbreak is here, and it’s shaking things up. Discover what you need to know and how to keep safe!

A sudden resurgence of rubella, commonly known as German measles, has alarmed the nation as the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) confirms an outbreak across South Africa. With over 10,000 reported cases since January 2024, the health department is sounding the alarm, particularly for parents and pregnant women. The culprit behind this infectious party crashing? An alarming ‘immunity gap’ due to the lack of vaccination during the pandemic. As kids enter 2024 without prior exposure or vaccination, we're seeing a spike in fever-rash samples across hospitals as they gear up for testing.

The NICD has reported that the bulk of these rubella cases are concentrated in Gauteng and the Western Cape provinces, with over 90% of infected cases recorded there. Rubella spreads like wildfire through droplets when an infected individual coughs or sneezes, making it incredibly contagious in crowded areas. While the illness primarily affects children under the age of 15, its repercussions can be dire for pregnant women, leading to congenital rubella syndrome that has the potential to cause severe birth defects in babies. So, what's the health ministry’s advice? Don’t panic! Instead, they recommend that parents check if their children are vaccinated and encourage pregnant women to take extra precautions.

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Image courtesy of "Eyewitness News"

NICD confirms rubella outbreak in South Africa (Eyewitness News)

CAPE TOWN - The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has confirmed a rubella, commonly known as German measles, outbreak in South Africa.

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Image courtesy of "News24"

'Immunity gap' behind flare-up in rubella cases - NICD (News24)

However, it can have serious consequences for pregnant women by infecting their unborn babies and causing congenital rubella syndrome - a potentially fatal ...

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Image courtesy of "Jacaranda FM"

NICD confirms surge in Rubella cases (Jacaranda FM)

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases says it's facing a significant surge in fever-rash samples for testing.

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Image courtesy of "Maritzburg Sun"

NICD reports surge in seasonal rubella cases | The Witness (Maritzburg Sun)

The surge is attributed to a large number of children entering 2024 without prior rubella exposure or vaccination.

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Image courtesy of "CapeTown ETC"

Measles and rubella cases in South Africa hit decade-high (CapeTown ETC)

South Africa has had more than 10 000 reported cases of German measles and rubella this year, with children between the ages of five and nine making up more ...

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Image courtesy of "Citizen"

'Immunity gap' drives rubella outbreak in South Africa (Citizen)

Immunity gaps during the pandemic drive a dramatic rise in rubella cases in SA, with over 8700 infections reported by September 2024.

South African health authority issues warning about rubella amid ... (The Star Online)

CAPE TOWN, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Department of Health on Thursday warned the public about a significant surge in rubella cases across the ...

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Image courtesy of "Daily Maverick"

Cases of rubella spike countrywide while diphtheria hits Western ... (Daily Maverick)

The NICD has attributed a surge in seasonal rubella cases to the large number of children entering 2024 without prior rubella exposure or vaccination.

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Image courtesy of "Independent Online"

'Do not panic': Health Department sounds alarm on rising rubella ... (Independent Online)

Rubella is highly contagious but vaccine-preventable disease. "Majority of cases were recorded in Gauteng and the Western Cape provinces, while more than 90% of ...

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Image courtesy of "Mossel Bay Advertiser"

Surge in seasonal rubella puts susceptible pregnant women at risk (Mossel Bay Advertiser)

LIFESTYLE NEWS - The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has reported a large increase in rubella cases nationwide.

South Africa: Health Department Warns of Rise of Rubella - South ... (AllAfrica.com)

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has recorded 10,137 positive rubella cases between January and November 2024, a significant increase ...

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Image courtesy of "Jacaranda FM"

Gauteng, Western Cape record most Rubella infections (Jacaranda FM)

The Department of Health said Gauteng and Western Cape have recorded the most cases of Rubella.

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Image courtesy of "Algoa FM"

Health Ministry advises of a spike in rubella cases (Algoa FM)

The Department of Health has advised the public of the rising number in laboratory-confirmed cases of rubella around the.

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Image courtesy of "Independent Online"

South Africa sees surge in rubella cases (Independent Online)

The disease spreads from person to person through droplets coughed or sneezed into the air by an infected person.

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Image courtesy of "iAfrica.com"

Gauteng and Western Cape Lead Rubella Outbreak Amid 10000 ... (iAfrica.com)

Gauteng and the Western Cape have emerged as the provinces with the highest number of rubella cases, as South Africa battles an outbreak of the viral ...

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Image courtesy of "Bizcommunity.com"

Cases of rubella spike countrywide while diphtheria hits Western Cape (Bizcommunity.com)

The National Department of Health has confirmed a surge in seasonal rubella cases in South Africa, with an outbreak of diphtheria detected in the Cape Metro ...

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Image courtesy of "Business Day"

Rubella outbreak said to be caused by lack of vaccination (Business Day)

The highest recorded number of cases of the viral infection also known as German measles was in Gauteng and the Western Cape. More than 90% of the total were ...

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Image courtesy of "George Herald"

Surge in seasonal rubella puts susceptible pregnant women at risk (George Herald)

LIFESTYLE NEWS - The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has reported a large increase in rubella cases nationwide.

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Image courtesy of "Johannesburg Sunday World"

Surge in seasonal rubella cases among children across SA (Johannesburg Sunday World)

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has reported a significant rise in rubella cases across the country. By the end of September, ...

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Image courtesy of "Eyewitness News"

Gauteng, Western Cape identified as provinces with most rubella ... (Eyewitness News)

More than 10000 positive cases have been identified in the country between January and November.

Health alerts public of rising rubella cases around the country ... (South African Government)

If children are not vaccinated against rubella, and never come into contact with rubella virus through natural infection, children will remain susceptible to ...

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Image courtesy of "Eyewitness News"

National Health Department urges pregnant women to guard ... (Eyewitness News)

The contagious infection largely affects children under 15 and pregnant women. Symptoms of the viral infection include fever, rash, runny nose, ...

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