Lab tests rule out cholera but reveal something else in the water
AbaQulusi mayor, Jerry Sibiya, urges residents to continue to boil and disinfect tap water before drinking it, until the labs are able to prove conclusively that the water is safe to drink.
Environmental and health teams from AbaQulusi Municipality and Zululand District Municipality have ruled out cholera as the reason for the recent outbreak of diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal cramps in Vryheid…
But independent laboratory testing of the water samples initiated by both municipalities has revealed that coliform bacteria are present.
More tests are now being conducted to conclusively determine if it is in fact the water that is making people sick, or not.
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Water manager, Nathi Mbongwa, explained that coliform bacteria are a group of bacteria that exists in soil, water and the digestive tract of humans and animals. “It is a natural occurrence which is not harmful to human health but it indicates that the water can have pathogens (a bacterium or virus that causes disease). We tested for E.coli which is another form of coliform and is also the best indication of faecal contamination, but there was no indication of E.coli in any of the samples that were tested. This means that the water is not contaminated in that way,” he said.
“There are different types of viruses and bacteria that can lead to diarrhea which we need to investigate. The Department of Health should not only focus on water. It could be food from a supermarket that is supplied with produce grown with poor quality water. This can result in this kind of diarrhea but the World Health Organisation prescribes that you first need to look at your tap water because everybody consumes water. Water is a common factor, that is why water is always pointed out as the culprit when we have outbreaks like this, but it does not mean that it is the water,” added Mr Mbongwa.
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AbaQulusi mayor, Jerry Sibiya, urges residents to continue to boil and disinfect tap water before drinking it, until the labs are able to prove conclusively that the water is safe to drink.
“We are being told by the health practitioners that the bacteria found in the water can cause cramps but it is not dangerous to humans and is not likely to cause the outbreak that we have experienced. However, we are continuing with the testing of the water and the community should continue to follow the safe water use prescribed by the Department of Health until we know for certain what’s making people sick,” said Cllr Sibiya.
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More conclusive, comprehensive test results will be available on Wednesday.
See the front page of this week’s edition of the Vryheid Herald for more information about what was found in the water and an explanation for how it might have entered the water network.
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