Beware waterborne and vector-borne diseases

Mpumalanga has for the past few weeks been experiencing heavy rainfall in the aftermath of Eloise.

This has resulted in the loss of life, injuries and displacements. According to the provincial Department of Health, there is a potential of waterborne and vector-borne diseases.

“Considering the current situation, there is a high anticipation of outbreaks related to waterborne diseases like acute watery diarrhoea (cholera and typhoid fever, dysentery) and vector-borne diseases (malaria and Rift Valley fever).

“The department has already activated the outbreak team at all levels that will provide public health responses.

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“Among others, it will conduct an environmental surveillance to identify communities at risk (unsafe water supplies, inadequate sanitation and malaria breeding sites). The team will ensure that there are adequate resources for management of acute watery diarrhoea and malaria. It will make sure that all patients presenting flu-like symptoms are tested for both malaria and Covid-19.

“Malaria symptoms unfortunately mimic those of Covid-19 virus,” said the MEC for this department, Sasekani Manzini, on Monday. Manzini said members of the public must ensure that they consume healthy food and safe drinking water. “We are still in malaria season and it is expected that the incidents of malaria will have a sharp increase within the coming days.

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“The community is requested to be aware of the signs and symptoms. We encourage people to visit their nearest health facility to get tested if they present these symptoms. It is our duty to ensure that our people are safe and that we prevent loss of life,” said Manzini.

In Mpumalanga, the local malaria transmission is most intense in the Kruger National Park, and Nkomazi and Bushbuckridge local municipalities.