Four more measles cases have been reported in the Greater Sekhukhune District Municipality in Limpopo.

This brings to seven the number of reported cases in the area, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said on Monday.

The cases have been detected in people aged between nine months and 24 years.

Three of the cases affect males, and four are in females.

"One child was fully vaccinated for measles, with two... doses given in 2019. One child with measles had not been vaccinated, and the other five measles cases had unknown vaccination histories.

"One measles case was admitted to the hospital, while one other had a complication that led to pneumonia."

Vaccinations for measles are given routinely from six to 12 months of age.

The NICD said the measles immunisation coverage data for the Greater Sekhukhune district showed a decrease of 87% to 64% for measles dose 1, and 86% to 60% for measles dose 2 from 2017 to 2022.

"This is below the 95% coverage needed to achieve herd immunity.

A survey is being done to validate the vaccination data provided to the province and investigate factors that might be contributing to the measles outbreak.

"Community awareness and health promotion by healthcare workers is continuing in the district to inform the public about the spread of measles and interventions to prevent disease.

Measles vaccination has been initiated for children under 15 years to increase measles immunity in the community and to prevent the further spread of measles."

The NICD said it was working with the Greater Sekhukhune District Municipality and the Limpopo health department to get the outbreak under control.

"These activities include enhanced surveillance for measles, contact tracing, screening for suspected measles cases using the measles case surveillance case definition, followed by [the] collection of blood and throat swabs for measles diagnostic testing, and medical record reviews in healthcare facilities to identify missed cases.

Persons who have been exposed to suspected or confirmed cases are being vaccinated to prevent the spread of measles."

Health workers have been encouraged to be on the lookout for measles cases, especially in Limpopo, because of outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa, including in Zimbabwe.

According to the NICD, measles is a highly contagious disease and infected people present with fever and a rash.

The rash looks like small, red, flat spots over the body. It does not form blisters, and is neither itchy, nor painful.

Other signs include coughing, red eyes and a runny nose. Complications of measles include diarrhoea, dehydration, brain infection, blindness and death.

People of any age who are not vaccinated can catch measles.