South Africa's Department of Health on Thursday, December 19, warned the public about a significant surge in rubella cases across the country, with more than 10,000 cases reported so far this year, Xinhua reports.

"According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), a total number of 10,137 positive cases of rubella have been identified in the country between January and November 2024, which is higher than cases recorded last year," said the department in a statement.

"Majority of cases were recorded in Gauteng and the Western Cape provinces, while more than 90 percent of the total cases are in children under 15 years of age, accounting for over 8,300 cases, with only one patient over the age of 50 years."

Rubella, also known as German measles, is a highly contagious but vaccine-preventable viral disease. According to the health department, the disease spreads from person to person through droplets coughed or sneezed into the air by an infected person. Children and pregnant women are at a higher risk of severe health complications of rubella.

"Rubella infection poses a risk of congenital rubella syndrome amongst pregnant mothers if they are infected in the first trimester of the pregnancy. It can lead to birth defects in their unborn child," said the department.

Meanwhile, according to the statement, despite being a mild and self-limiting illness in children, the risk of transmission remains high, particularly among those who have not been vaccinated or exposed to the rubella virus.

"Parents and caregivers are urged to closely keep an eye on the health condition of their children and look out for common symptoms which include rash, fever, sore throat, headache, cough, runny nose, swollen lymph nodes in the neck and nausea. Symptoms develop two to three weeks after exposure," it said.

In the statement, the department also underlined that "there is no need for the public to panic," while urging people to present themselves or their loved ones with suspected rubella symptoms without delays for early detection and effective treatment to prevent further transmission.

"The public healthcare facilities will remain accessible throughout the festive season," it added.