A 27-year-old female patient died on 17 January at Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital due to typhoid fever.
The Gauteng Department of Health wishes to inform citizens of Gauteng that four cases of typhoid fever have been identified within the Johannesburg area: Hillbrow, Yeoville, Edenvale and Palm Springs. Two of these cases were identified at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital, while the other two were confirmed at the Edenvale District Hospital. Unfortunately, one of them, who was known to have travelled through Mozambique three weeks before en route to South Africa, a Malawian female patient, died at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital.
She went to the Hillbrow CHC (Community Health Centre) on 14 January complaining of a fever, headache and vomiting. When tested for malaria, the results were negative and it was said that she was not looking seriously ill, she was then discharged and asked to come back if her symptoms persisted. Tests for the typhoid fever were not conducted because the disease had not been prevalent in the community. She was then referred to Charlotte Maxeke Hospital on 15 January complaining of a severe fever, headache and joint pains where she died on 17 January. Tests confirmed that she died of the typhoid fever.
A 16-year-old female was admitted on 19 January to Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital, also complaining of a fever, headache and vomiting. She was immediately diagnosed with typhoid. She is undergoing treatment, and is reportedly stable and improving.
Typhoid is a highly infectious disease which is spread through the ingestion of contaminated food and water. It is common in communities where there is inadequate sanitation. Poor personal hygiene is also responsible for the rapid spread of the disease. The symptoms includes high fever, headache, joint pains, and abdominal discomfort sometimes with vomiting.
“We have activated our Outbreak Response Team, to trace and manage these cases and to determine if there is a common source. We wish to assure the public that we are on the alert. People must always wash their hands,” said MEC for Health in Gauteng, Qedani Mahlangu.
The Gauteng Department of Health confirms that two new additional cases of typhoid have been reported in the province. These were confirmed on 25 January at the Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in the Tshwane district.
