Highlights
- The NICD has tested 6523 serum samples for measles since epidemiological week 40, 2022, of which 1114 (17%) were confirmed positive. In the past week (week 27 up until week 28, 17/07/2023) there have been 5 laboratory-confirmed measles cases detected across the country, of which 3 cases are from Gauteng and 1 from Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal respectively.
- The percentage of samples testing positive (PTP) decreased from 17% (5/28) of samples tested in week 27 to 0% (0/12) of samples tested in week 28.
- The outbreak is effectively over. However ongoing cases are reported from Gauteng and Limpopo province. Limpopo province is currently completing a mop-up vaccination campaign. Sporadic cases are being reported from other provinces.
- To declare the measles outbreak over, the following criteria should be achieved: Absence of newly detected measles cases for more than two incubation periods (42 days). The criteria for declaring the measles outbreak over was met in the Northern Cape province in week 15, the North West province in week 24, and the Free State province in week 25. Sporadic cases are still seen in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape.
Outbreak overview
From epidemiological week 40 2022 to week 28 2022, the NICD tested 6523 serum samples for measles of which 1114 (17%) were confirmed measles cases. The number of samples submitted and the percentage of laboratory-confirmed measles-positive cases are shown in Figure 1. From epidemiological week 40 of 2022 to week 28 of 2023, 1106 laboratory-confirmed cases were reported from eight provinces with declared measles outbreaks; Limpopo (511 cases), Mpumalanga (112 cases), North West (217 cases), Gauteng (187 cases), Free State (32 cases), Western Cape (17), KwaZulu-Natal (23) and Northern Cape (7) (Table 1)The number of blood samples and throat swabs submitted to the NICD for measles serology and PCR testing decreased from 28 in week 27 to 12 tests in week 28.
