A rubella outbreak has been confirmed countrywide with more than 8,000 infections identified - but health authorities say there is no need to panic - yet. National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) spokesperson Dr Kerrigan McCarthy said yesterday 8,700 positive cases had been identified.
"NICD is reporting a large increase in rubella cases nationwide. As of week 40 [end of September], over 8,700 positive cases have been identified.
"Notably, 98% of these cases have affected children under 15, with the majority occurring in the five to nine year age group.
"This surge - surpassing the figures recorded in 2015 - is attributed to a large number of children entering 2024 without prior rubella exposure or vaccination," said McCarthy.
Department of health spokesperson Foster Mohale confirmed the outbreak but said the situation was under control.
"There is no need to panic, but the public must visit their nearest health care centres as soon as they present the symptoms.
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