By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Gauteng department of health has confirmed two more people had died at Jubilee Hospital in Hammanskraal, bringing the death toll from the cholera outbreak to 12.
“We can confirm that the death toll is currently standing at 12 people that have since passed on,” Gauteng Health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said on Monday morning.
Ten people were confirmed to have succumbed to the disease on Sunday.
Ninety-five people have visited hospitals and clinics since Monday last week showing cholera symptoms, including diarrhoea, stomach cramps and nausea.
To date, 37 people have been admitted to the hospital seeking medical assistance.
Diarrhoeal disease is a common and often highly infectious condition that affects the stomach and intestines.
Modiba has urged community members who are experiencing cholera-like symptoms to seek medical attention.
“We want to continue emphasising that those people who are exhibiting the symptoms of diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach cramps, nausea and low-grade fever do present at your local clinic or hospital so that you can be checked and assisted.
“We continue to urge communities to maintain hand hygiene, washing our hands thoroughly with soap before handling or preparing food and even when coming from the bathroom.”
“We will be giving another update at midday in terms of where we are standing and another update will be given at 7pm so that we are able to manage the flow of information,’ added Modiba.
Since 2005, the community of Hammanskraal, in the north of Pretoria, has had to contend with brown, slimy tap water.
In 2018, residents protested against the poor quality of water. They believed that the water was contaminated, and could cause cholera and other health complications.
Rooiwal wastewater treatment plant was identified as the source of dirty water, owing to its lack of capacity to purify wastewater, resulting in sludge being discharged into the Apies River.
The City of Tshwane has since issued a notice urging communities not to drink tap water and has supplied water tankers to the hospital and surrounding communities.