Pretoria -The Gauteng Health Department will kick off its measles immunisation drive at schools in the province today.
Health workers will visit schools and crSches throughout the province to immunise children from six-months-old to primary and high school age against the highly contagious viral disease.
This follows an increase in the number of measles cases in recent weeks. There have been over 400 incidents of measles reported since March.
The department's Outbreak Response Team has alerted all clinicians, both in the private and public sector, to be on the lookout for any signs and symptoms from patients who present themselves at the health facilities.
The School Health Campaign will also be held in KwaZulu-Natal this week.
The weeklong campaign aims to raise awareness on measles and Influenza AH1N1 as well as promote and educate children on environmental health, water and sanitation, HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis, child abuse, substance abuse, safety and security, teenage pregnancy, healthy lifestyle, nutrition and gardening.
Health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo, together with senior management from the department, will on Tuesday visit Nichol's Primary School in Edendale, to participate in the screening and assessment of learners.
About 240 schools are targeted for the week in all districts throughout the province this week.
The symptoms of measles include a runny nose, cough, red eyes, fever and rashes.
