CONTRARY to social media posts circulating on various platforms, recent cases of enteric fever (typhoid) have not been linked to contaminated drinking water.
This is according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).
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‘There is no evidence that recent cases of enteric fever are linked to contaminated municipal water in any part of the country, and there is no evidence that the bacteria causing enteric fever have recently been identified in municipal water sources anywhere in the country.
‘This includes those districts in Western Cape and North West provinces in which the clusters (small localised outbreaks) have been identified,’ said the NICD earlier today (Monday).
Five cases of typhoid were reported in Tshwane during January, and two in December, according to Tshwane Health MMC Rina Marx.
Last week, the NICD confirmed cases of typhoid fever in the City of Cape Town, the Cape winelands and the Garden Route, as well as in North West Province.
While a separate post taken from the City of uMhlathuze website has also been circulating, stating the municipality is investigating ‘heavily chlorinated tap water’ that was reportedly the cause of ‘numerous Richards Bay children falling sick’, this post was published in 2016.
There have been no reported cases of typhoid in KZN in recent months.
What is enteric fever (typhoid)?
Enteric fever is a potentially life-threatening infection. It includes typhoid fever (caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi) and paratyphoid fever (caused by the bacterium Salmonella Paratyphi A, B and C).
These bacteria only infect humans, and humans are the only reservoirs. Transmission of the infection is by the faecal-oral route (through ingesting food or water that has been contaminated with faeces of an infected person).
Typhoid in South Africa
South Africa is endemic for enteric fever caused by Salmonella Typhi, although the prevalence of disease is much lower than most other countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
The number of reported enteric fever cases in South Africa has declined over the last few decades, and larger outbreaks have become less common. The most recent large outbreak occurred in Delmas in 2005, with over 2 900 cases.
After the Delmas outbreak in 2005, the number of enteric fever cases in South Africa has remained stable, with fewer than 150 cases per year (an average of 97 cases per year)
Hand hygiene – wash hands with soap and safe water:
• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before and after eating food
• Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick (especially if they have diarrhoea or vomiting)
• After using the toilet
• After changing nappies or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
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