Cases of cholera confirmed in Vredefort/Parys area

Six cases of cholera  in the Vredefort and Parys areas have been confirmed  by the Department of Health, bringing the total cumalative number of positive cases in Gauteng and the Free State to 21.

The Department of Health In a statement today (Saturday 20 May)  warned the public to take extra cautionary measures and maintain proper hand-hygiene. The department urged the public to avoid suspected contaminated food, water and surfaces, and to wash hands to prevent possible infections.

Provincial and district oubreak response teams in both the Gauteng and Free State provinces have been dispatched to the affected communities to further investigate the source of the outbreaks. The department said it would keep the public informed of the findings of the investigations.

In the past few day people presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria  had led to over 50 patients receiving medical care at the Jubilee Hospital, of which six patients had lost their lives. Apart from the Gauteng province, cases were also reported in the Vredefort/Parys areas.

Gastrointestinal illness is a common and often highly infectious condition that affects the stomach and intestines. The disease typically spreads by contact with an infected person or through contaminated food or water, and individuals generally become ill 12-48 hours after exposure.

Common symptoms include:

• diarrhoea
• cramps
• nausea
• vomiting
• low-grade fever
• The water supply crisis in Parys once again led to protest action the past week
• During the handing of a memorandum and petition to the Ngwathe Municipality on Friday 12 May , signed by more than 7 000 residents, Simon Poole of the Kanana Group said several peaceful marches had already happened and memorandums handed over to the municipality about Parys’ water supply issues, but with no answers or improvement of the horrible conditions people endure without water in their taps. He said the situation causes people to drink water that is not safe because they do not have clean drinking water. The situation also led to protest action in the town the past week. The MEC of Cogta, Mr Ketso Makume, during his visit to Parys the past week, following the protest action, was clear in his message that Ngwathe and national officials must work around the clock on a turnaround strategy to ensure there is water in areas that do not have it, and that people get clean, potable water.

https://www.citizen.co.za/parys-gazette/85023/community-demands-water-not-promises/