Health Dept confirms Limpopo’s first cholera case

LIMPOPO – The Limpopo Department of Health have confirmed the province’s first cholera case recorded at the Musina Hospital.

Health spokesperson Neil Shikwambana said the case was confirmed by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) and presented in a 26-year-old Zimbabwean national.

“The patient presented at the hospital on May 26 with extreme diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration. He was admitted, isolated and treated while specimens were sent to the NICD for testing. Although the test results returned positive today (May 30), the patient has since improved and is due to be discharged,” his statement read.

The country is currently facing a cholera outbreak with 23 people having died from the disease in Gauteng and one in the Free State. 

Cholera is a disease that mainly spreads through contaminated/polluted water and infection occurs through the drinking of the water or eating contaminated food.

Symptoms include diarrhoea, dehydration, vomiting and body weakness.

Shikwambana said this positive case did not come as a surprise as the Beitbridge district in neighbouring Zimbabwe is a district known for outbreaks.

“The department did confirm a state of readiness at Musina Hospital and efforts have been strengthened at the Bela Bela Hospital which borders Gauteng’s Hamanskraal where the outbreak occurred,” he said. 

The health department have also strengthened their outbreak response work by means of surveillance and are conducting health promotions working with local stakeholders in hotspot areas including the Beitbridge Boarder Post.

“The department has also met with the Vhembe District Municipality about the need to regularly conduct water tests as a preventative measure,” he said.

Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba has called on communities to remain calm and vigilant by practicing basic hygiene, washing of hands and drinking safe water.