No cholera related deaths in FS as yet

The 6 confirmed cases of Cholera in the Free State are all in Vredefort and have all been treated and discharged. Currently there is no Cholera or Diarrhoea related deaths in the Free State, has been confirmed by the Department of Health today, Sunday 21 May.

The Free State and Gauteng provinces are on the spotlight with high rates of infections of Diarrhoea and confirmed cases of Cholera which has already led to 8 deaths in the Gauteng province. 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,

The Free State province is in the most vulnerable position as it is in the centre of the country surrounded by the Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, KZN, Northen Cape and North West provinces, as well as Lesotho.  Five national key roads (N1, N3, N5, N6 and N8) connecting the country and Lesotho runs through the Free State. Therefore the departement alerted district and local municipalities to be part of community mobilisation efforts as the province is affected by whatever is happening around us.

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