Port Moresby is now being placed on red alert for a measles outbreak as four new cases have been confirmed by Health Authorities at the Port Moresby General Hospital.
However, Health Secretary Pascoe Kase says, a mass measles vaccination is planned to rollout beginning 5th of March 2014.
The 4 new cases were detected in different areas around the city in the last few days. This is in the space of 2 weeks after the first case was detected.
In a press statement sent by the Secretary of Health, Pascoe Kase, he says it is clear that the disease is spreading in NCD.
However Mr Kase says, Health Authorities have taken immediate charge of the outbreak by planning a mass vaccination to contain the spread of the disease in Port Moresby and to other provinces.
All children and young adults from 6 months to 20 years will be vaccinated in this program.
Secretary Kase is calling on all parents, young adults and children to visit their nearest health facility to seek treatment and advice from health workers.
Measles is highly contagious and is a virus spread by coughing and sneezing, close contact with infected nasal or throat secretions, and its complications includes death.
The currently used measles vaccine in PNG has been in use for 50 years and is safe, effective and inexpensive.
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