Five provinces with confirmed cholera cases

Since the outbreak of cholera earlier this year in South Africa, these FIVE provinces have combined confirmed 198 cholera cases and 43 deaths.

THESE FIVE PROVINCES HAVE CONFIRMED CHOLERA CASES

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) the first three cases in this outbreak were imported or import-related cases following travel to Malawi.

Health Departmental Spokesperson Foster Mohale said the country has recorded a total cumulative number of 1073 suspected cases of cholera in five provinces, of which 198 of them were laboratory-confirmed between 1st of February and 4 July 2023.

“This doesn`t mean the transmission of cholera is over, and members of the public are urged to remain vigilant and exercise personal hygiene at all times, especially when preparing and serving food during mass gatherings.”

Foster Mohale

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THE RECENT CASES ARE LOCAL TRANSMISSIONS

But since then, the confirmed cases that have been reported — across five provinces — are local transmission. This means the cases are not imported from other countries, the Centre for Health Journalism said.

AFRIFORUM CARRIED OUT SEVERAL WATER TESTS

The civil rights organisation AfriForum has carried out several water tests in the Vaal River and elsewhere in the past month after earlier tests in this river tested positive for cholera.

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“Water samples were taken from towns along the Vaal River, while a sample was also taken in the river system. Dozens of people make use of this river’s water daily.”

Manager: Environmental Affairs Lambert de Klerk said

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THE FOLLOWING SEVEN LOCATIONS TESTED POSITIVE FOR CHOLERA:

According to the results, the following seven locations tested positive for cholera:

• At the Barrage Bridge in the Vaal River.
• At Parys in the Vaal River.
• In Welkom at Thabong where the Mostert Canal starts.
• In Welkom at a furrow that runs into the Witpan.
• At Barkley West in the Vaal River.
• At Douglas in the Vaal River before it merges with the Orange River.
• At Warrenton in the Vaal River.

THESE FIVE PROVINCES HAVE CONFIRMED CASES:

• Gauteng 176 cases
• Free State 11
• North West 6 cases
• Limpopo 4 cases
• Mpumalanga 1 case

HERE ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CHOLERA:

Cholera is a bacterial disease usually spread through contaminated water. Cholera causes severe diarrhoea and dehydration.

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Left untreated, cholera can be fatal in a matter of hours, even in previously healthy people.

Symptoms in the early stages, include:

• profuse watery diarrhea, sometimes described as “rice-water stools”
• vomiting
• thirst
• leg cramps
• restlessness or irritability