Measles Outbreak Slowly Ends in South Africa

South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) today announced in a media statement that the year-long measles outbreak is effectively over. 

However, sporadic measles cases are being reported in South Africa.

As of July 21, 2023, the NICD had tested 6,523 serum samples for measles since epidemiological week 40, 2022, of which 1,114 (17%) were confirmed positive.

Furthermore, the Limpopo province is currently completing a mop-up vaccination campaign.

The measles strain detected in Limpopo and North West province is genotype D8, similar to the strain in Zimbabwe in the 2022 measles outbreak.

Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. 

Globally, about 30 countries have reported measles outbreaks in 2023.

The U.S. CDC reissued a Level 1 Travel Health Advisory in late June 2023, confirming travelers are at risk of measles if they have not been fully vaccinated two weeks before departure or have not had measles in the past and travel internationally to areas where measles is spreading.

As of July 7, 2023, a total of 18 measles cases were reported by 12 jurisdictions in the U.S. Most of these cases were travel-related.

Various measles vaccines are available in the U.S. at health clinics and community pharmacies in 2023.