Out of the more than 200 food poisoning cases affecting children in Gauteng since February, 10 have resulted in death – the latest fatalities being reported last week, when two toddlers died.
News24 reports that most of the cases were in the Ekurhuleni district, which had 119 cases with four deaths, followed by Johannesburg with 40 cases.
Tshwane had 31 cases resulting in three deaths, and the West Rand district had 14 cases. The Sedibeng district had three cases and three deaths.
The latest cases, last Thursday night, were at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Tshwane and Jabulani Dumane Community Health Centre (CHC) in Ekurhuleni.
One involved two brothers, aged four and six, according to the Health Department, which said the siblings had earlier shared a meal of pap and soup at home. The four-year-old was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital, while his brother died shortly afterwards, said Gauteng Health & Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko.
On the same night, three children from Vosloorus, aged three, five and six, were taken to Jabulani Dumane CHC after bouts of vomiting.
The two youngest, who were neighbours, died on arrival, while the third child was resuscitated and taken to Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital for further medical care.
He remains critical.
Apparently, a 28-year-old man – an uncle to two of the children – had shared potato chips with the three children. He was later admitted to Thelle Mogoerane with food poisoning symptoms and discharged the next day.
Nkomo-Ralehoko said the department was “deeply concerned” by the incidents, and was working closely “with multiple stakeholders and the Department of Education to heighten awareness in communities and conduct health education sessions in schools targeting pupils and vendors”.
“These sessions focus on the importance of hand hygiene, proper food handling and preparation, water hygiene, clean environments, sanitation, and food expiry dates among other topics,” she said.
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