By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Gauteng Health Department has confirmed the death of ten people, including a three-year-old from a cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal, Tshwane.
The department on Sunday confirmed a cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal.
Lab tests were conducted on stool samples of 19 people who presented at Jubilee District Hospital with symptoms of diarrhea, stomach cramps and nausea.
“To date, 95 people from Kanana, Suurman, Majaneng, Green Field, Carousel View, Lephengville and Sekampaneng have been seen at the hospital with Cholera symptoms, since Monday, 15 May 2023 and unfortunately, 10 people have demised.
“The 10 people that died include a 3-year-old and 9 adults.”
South Africa reported its first cholera death in February, after the virus arrived in the country from Malawi.
It was unclear how many cholera cases there was nationally as of Sunday, but the most populous province of Gauteng, where Johannesburg and Pretoria are situated, has been hardest hit.
Cholera can cause acute diarrhoea, vomiting and weakness and is mainly spread by contaminated food or water. It can kill within hours if untreated.
The last outbreak in South Africa was in 2008/2009 when about 12,000 cases were reported following an outbreak in neighbouring Zimbabwe, which led to a surge of imported cases and subsequent local transmission.
MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, visited the hospital on Sunday together with the City of Tshwane MMC for Health, Rina Marx to be updated on the situation.
Nkomo-Ralehoko said the department has made available two additional wards to accommodate patients who could not be immediately admitted on arrival at Jubilee Hospital.
We have also mobilised additional resources which include medical and nursing staff from surrounding hospitals and local clinics to improve capacity for the growing need for medical care. Furthermore, additional linen has been delivered from the provincial laundry to activate the extra beds.”
Nkomo-Ralehoko has urged the public to take extra precautionary measures and maintain proper hand hygiene.
“We would like to reiterate and urge the public to avoid known or suspected contaminated food, water and surfaces and wash hands thoroughly with soap before handling food or after using the bathroom to prevent possible infection.
“It is also important that people never drink water from unsafe sources such as rivers, dams, streams, unless boiled or disinfected, She said.”
Meanwhile, the City of Tshwane has issued a notice urging communities of Hammanskraal not to drink tap water and has supplied water tankers to the hospital and surrounding communities.