Call for mumps immunisation as outbreak spreads to North West

• The mumps outbreak has spread to North West.
• It joins Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga in recording increased mumps cases.
• Parents and caregivers have been asked to have their children immunised.

North West is experiencing a mumps outbreak, according to the provincial health department.

Cases climbed to 342 "in no time", with the spread increasing in other districts, according to North West Health MEC Madoda Sambatha.

Sambatha said the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District had the highest prevalence. 

"Dr Kenneth Kaunda District alone has thus far reported 276 cases out of the 342 which are prevalent at JB Marks, Maquassi Hills and Matlosana. Ngaka Modiri Molema District has 30 cases, Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District has 27 cases, while Bojanala has recorded nine cases."

READ | Mumps outbreak in South Africa confirmed by National Institute for Communicable Diseases

Last week, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) announced that there was a mumps outbreak in South Africa.

The generally mild childhood disease causes painful swelling of the salivary glands.

According to the NICD, recent data shows "unexpected, steady increases" in positive tests, predominantly in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Gauteng, which "constitutes an outbreak".

The NICD found an increase in positive tests among children younger than nine. The viral infection usually affects children between the ages of five and nine, but can be avoided through vaccination.

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Sambatha called for the immunisation of children.

"Parents and caregivers should bring along the Road to Health immunisation cards to the nearby health facility to ensure that their children are immunised against mumps. Our outbreak response teams are also working hard to contain the spread," Sambatha said.

"We will also work with the education department to take the campaign to learners through the school health programme, and parents and caregivers are urged to give consent for immunisation of their children."