APA-Gaborone (Botswana) Botswana has activated its rapid response mechanism after 13 cases of measles and one of rubella were reported in six of the country’s districts, Ministry of Health official Christopher Nyanga announced on Tuesday.
According to Nyanga, the cases of measles and rubella (or German measles) have been detected in the Greater Gaborone, Kweneng, Greater Francistown, Tutume, Serowe/Palapye and Greater Selebi Phikwe districts.
“Alongside its partners, the ministry has already activated its rapid response teams to investigate, manage and conduct contact tracing of confirmed cases,” Nyanga said.
He urged members of the public not to panic but remain vigilant, “since all processes are in place to detect and control the spread of this disease.”
“The ministry assures members of the public that it has a strong surveillance system in place which is not only capable of quickly detecting and investigating any suspected case of measles but many other diseases as well.”
Measles is a viral respiratory disease that is transmitted by air when an infected person coughs or sneezes and can be contracted at any age.
It is a vaccine preventable disease which can be deadly, particularly for children who have missed routine childhood immunisations.
Rubella is also a contagious disease caused by a virus. Most people who get rubella usually have a mild illness, with symptoms that can include a low-grade fever, sore throat and a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.
JN/APA