The Ministry of Health and Social Services has announced an outbreak of measles in the Omusati Region.

According to a public notice by the ministry, 23 suspected cases have so far been reported. Fourteen cases are from a school in Olukekete village in the Outapi district, eight from the Tsandi district and one from Okahao district.

The ministry noted that out of the cases investigated, five were laboratory confirmed, while one was classified as compatible after testing equivocal and could not be retested due to prolonged onset of symptoms.

MoHSS said some cases that have not been classified await results from the National Institute of Pathology.

“According to the lab reports, four cases were confirmed to have been linked to a school near the Namibia-Angola border. In addition, two cases originated from Omakange village in the same region,” the document noted.

The age of all confirmed cases is below 15 years, ranging between five months and 12 years old. Four are females and two are males.

The ministry noted that they are in stable condition and none has been admitted in a health facility.

Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus of the paramyxovirus family. It is spread mainly through coughing, sneezing, close personal contact or direct contact with infected nasal or throat secretions.

The public is urged to maintain good hygiene and sanitation and where possible avoid overcrowded areas.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency