By Akani Nkuna
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases points to a substantial number of unimmunised children as the reason behind the spike in rubella cases in 2024, highlighting the need for improved vaccination rates and infection control measures.
“The reason for the large number of cases this year, compared with previous years, is because many children entered 2024 without prior exposure to rubella, or without being vaccinated against rubella,” said NICD in a statement.
A nationwide surge in rubella (German measles) cases has been reported, with over 8,700 confirmed cases by week 40. Notably, the majority of cases (98%) affected children under 15, with a significant concentration in the 5-9 age bracket, accounting for the largest proportion of infections.
The 2024 outbreak has surpassed the total number of cases reported since 2015, with a notable increase in samples testing positive. However, testing has been hindered by delays in procuring
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