Health facilities in the North West province have been placed on high alert after six confirmed cases of measles were reported, a provincial health spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Rustenburg, Madibeng, Potchefstroom and Kgetleng were the affected areas, spokesperson Tebogo Lekgethwane said.

"To contain the pandemic, the department's communicable disease directorate has already embarked on a measles immunisation educational drive targeting all public, private, primary and secondary schools, crèches and churches," he said in a statement.

Lekgethwane said parents and caregivers must ensure children had received all their vaccines for the age of the child. If parents were unsure they should ask their local clinic. Measles immunisations are available free of charge from all public healthcare facilities.

Measles is a highly infectious viral disease. The sickness commonly presents as a high fever, a general feeling of unwellness, coughing, a runny nose and teary eyes two to three days before a typical rash appears. Although there is no rash at the onset of the fever and flu-like symptoms, the patient is highly contagious before the rash appears.

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