Health Ministry records no new measles cases since last month

The Ministry of Health says no new cases of measles have been detected since the two cases were reported in Serua-Namosi last month.

In a statement, the Ministry says the immunisation programme is in action where all children aged 6 months to 11 years in the Serua-Namosi Medical Sub-division will receive one dose of measles vaccination and children aged 6 months to 5 years will receive 2 drops of oral Polio vaccine.

All children in Fiji who have turned 1-year-old and are yet to receive their measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine are encouraged to go to their nearest health facility for their vaccination.

This includes Year 1 students who are yet to receive their measles vaccination.

The Ministry says all parents and guardians of children in Viti Levu who are travelling to outer islands for their Christmas and New Year holidays should ensure that their children have completed their vaccination before travel.

This will ensure that the travelling children as well as the vulnerable children in their holiday destinations are well protected.

They further say travel operators and tour organizers are encouraged to ensure that children who are travelling out of Viti Levu have completed their immunization schedule as per their Immunization cards.

Children and babies who have not completed their scheduled immunization should be referred immediately to their local health facility for further assessment and immunization.

If an individual is noted to have a fever and rash, please seek medical attention immediately.

Signs and Symptoms of Measles

Measles is a highly contagious, serious, airborne disease caused by the measles virus, and spreads through air droplets as well as by direct contact. The virus infects the respiratory tract and spread throughout the body. The signs and symptoms of measles are high fever which begins about 10 to 12 days after exposure to the virus and lasts 4 to 7 days, running nose, cough, red and watery eyes, small white spots inside the cheeks in the initial stage, after several days a rash erupts usually on the face and upper neck, within 3 days it spreads reaching the hands and feet lasting for 5 to 6 days. The Health Ministry is urging any individual presenting with the signs and symptoms of measles to please visit their nearest health facility for immediate attention and treatment.