A man died of measles and 50, mostly children, are suspected to have contracted the disease in the Eastern Cape, the provincial health department said on Saturday.

Spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said a 25-year-old man from Tshezi village outside Mthatha died on January 3 after contracting the virus from a two-year-old who came to visit during Christmas holidays from Gauteng.

"He died after presenting symptoms of measles which include a rash, high blood pressure, fever and a headache," said Kupelo.

Khupelo said there was one other confirmed case reported in the province.

"The confirmed case is that of a female doctor who was treating children infected by the virus at the Zithulele hospital."

The doctor was being treated at a private hospital.

There were 50 suspected measles infections reported from villages of Mathojanini, Thwalikulu, Mpaku, Zidindi, Ngcwanguba, Kwaiman and Tshezi.

"It is mostly children with just a few adults," said Kupelo.

The department on Saturday dispatched an outbreak team of about 20 nurses, with some 9000 measles vaccines to affected areas.

"Further tests are being conducted ... blood samples (of the suspected cases) have been sent the National Institute of Communicable Diseases," said Kupelo.

"Anyone showing symptoms of the virus is encouraged to immediately seek medical help. Mothers are also urged to bring their children to health facilities to be immunised against measles," said Kupelo.

He said the department has responded "promptly and swiftly" to what appears to be an outbreak.

"Because it's a virus, we have to treat it as outbreak."

Sapa

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