Sporadic reporting of measles infections continue in Mpumalanga and North West, and the NICD has now announced an increase in rubella reports from the City of Cape Town (Khayelitsha sub-district) in Western Cape Province. Due to public health measures, fewer rubella infections were reported during the first three years of the pandemic, however the agency has now warned that as ‘the country has not experienced the usual seasonal rubella outbreaks, we are likely to see a large number of cases in 2023’. Read more
Advice for travellers
Rubella is the 'R' component in the triple MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. Highly contagious, rubella is spread by airborne droplets and can cause serious birth defects if infection occurs during early pregnancy. Travellers should also check their immunisation status for all childhood diseases, including measles, mumps, tetanus, whooping cough and diphtheria as part of their pre-travel medical preparations. Read more about rubella.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.