| 1. |
Although isolated reports of school learners with meningitis have been sent to the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), only one case of meningitis has been confirmed in this province and schools are advised not to regard this as an outbreak. |
| 2. |
However, an outbreak of measles has been reported in Gauteng and the WCED would like schools to take the necessary precautions in case the measles spreads to the Western Cape. |
| 3. |
In order to prepare schools adequately, pamphlets from the Department of Health, on both meningitis and measles, are attached for your information. |
| 4. |
Should a medical practitioner contact your school to report a confirmed diagnosis of meningitis or measles affecting one of your staff or learners, then the school principal and governing body must immediately contact the relevant education district office to report the confirmed diagnosis. |
| 5. |
The district office will then contact the Regional Health Services' Communicable Disease Unit. |
| 6. |
The Health Services team will assess and monitor the level of risk at the school. Risk of infection will be rated as low, medium or high, depending on a variety of factors determined by the Health Services team. |
| 7. |
Should the Health Services team recommend steps to combat a spreading of infection, school principals must take such recommendations seriously and ensure that all instructions received are carried out. |
SIGNED: MJ THERON
ACTING HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2009:09:07
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