City on high alert following cases of cholera

The City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) announced on February 28 that it is on high alert amid the current cholera outbreak.

As part of its efforts, it has embarked on a roadshow to educate people about cholera.

This comes after the death of a 24-year-old man from Emandleni in Wattville who has been recorded as the first confirmed cholera patient to die of the disease in the country.

The patient’s mother, according to the National Department of Health, died before her son but whether this was due to cholera remains unconfirmed.

The department spokesperson Foster Mohale said last week the number of laboratory-confirmed cases in South Africa has risen to five.

According to the CoE spokesperson Zweli Dlamini, the metro has moved swiftly to launch an investigation to determine the origins of the disease and to trace any other incidents, while at the same time embarking on a roadshow to educate people about cholera in general.

“We do not want to see the spread of this disease, which can claim lives rapidly if left unchecked. We have sourced water samples from a river the victims visited before being diagnosed, to determine if the river was not the source of the infections,” he said.

Dlamini added that the educational campaign that started in Emandleni will spread to other areas now that cases have been identified.

“The city would like to make it clear that drinking water from the tap is healthy and safe,” he said.

Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with cabrio cholerae bacteria.

The community is urged to immediately consult their nearest health care facility if they experience the following symptoms:
• Profuse watery diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Thirst
• Leg cramps
• Restlessness or irritability
Cholera can be prevented by exercising the following precautions:
• When cooking or drinking, washing your fruits and vegetables, use safe water from the municipal tap or bottled water.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water especially after using the toilet and before touching food.
• Where no safe water is not accessible, use alcohol base hand sanitizer.
• Use the toilet and not defecate in the open; and clean up surfaces with safe water.

Also Read: Wattville man first recorded cholera death in the country

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