Two children have died and about 60 were admitted to hospital after drinking contaminated water in the Sekhukhune area of Limpopo, reports The Times. The two children were four and nine years old‚ said Sekhukhune District Municipality spokesperson Willy Mosoma. All those admitted to Jane Furse and St Ritas hospitals are in primary school.
The report says the contaminated water is in a stream that runs the areas of Stykraal‚ Tswaing‚ Mooiplaas and Vlakplaas. On 22 November‚ the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research tested the water and found typhoid. The stream is being guarded around the clock to ensure residents do not drink the water. The municipality is‚ in the meantime‚ using water tankers to supply residents with clean water.
The report says the source of the typhoid remains unknown.
Mosoma said post-mortems will confirm whether the children died from the typhoid.
Typhoid fever is caused by eating or drinking food or water contaminated with the bacteria Salmonella typhimurium. Some of the symptoms include a rash‚ fevers‚ headaches‚ stomach pains and loss of appetite. If not treated in time typhoid can be fatal.
[link url="https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2017-12-01-typhoid-two-children-die-60-ill-after-drinking-from-contaminated-stream/"]The Times report[/link]