By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The national department of health has intensified screening services at all border ports of entry after recent reports of cholera outbreaks in neighbouring countries.
Health spokesperson Foster Mohale announced on Wednesday that the department of health has noted the recent cholera outbreak in neighbouring countries, such as Zimbabwe, Mozambique and other cholera-prone countries, and its impact on the health systems.
Mohale said working together with stakeholders like the Border Management Authority, has helped to intensify health screening services and health education at the land ports of entry to mitigate against the cross-border transmission of the disease.
“We urge all travellers returning from cholera-endemic areas including Zimbabwe to be vigilant of Cholera symptoms and cooperate with health officials and be transparent.
“All suspected Cholera patients will be referred to the nearest health facilities for testing. Hand hygiene is one of the effective preventative and control measures against bacterial diseases like Cholera.”
Mohale added that the Cholera symptoms were abdominal pains, nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, and watery diarrhoea in normal cases.
In May last year, Hammanskraal became the epicentre of a cholera outbreak. Dozens of people were admitted to hospitals and within 24 hours, the death toll began to climb up.
Health Minister Joe Phaahla said 99 confirmed cases of cholera and 31 deaths had been recorded in Tshwane, Free State and Ekurhuleni municipality.
However, to this day, the source of the outbreak is unknown
According to Unicef’s 2023 report, 11 countries in southern and eastern Africa, including Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia, South Sudan, Burundi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and South Africa, are currently battling one of the worst cholera outbreaks to hit the region in years.