More cholera cases have been detected in Gauteng, the latest being from a series of baptisms in local rivers, bringing to 10 the total number of cases in the province. One of the patients died in February.
Three of the four new cases were recorded in a group who had attended a baptism in the Jukskei River, while the fourth was a girl who had been baptised in the Klip River, reports News24.
The Department of Health said a couple from Diepsloot had been infected and were admitted to Helen Joseph Hospital, where both mentioned being baptised in the Jukskei River with another six people.
They fell ill a few days later, said department spokesperson Foster Mohale, while the pastor who performed the baptism, a 50-year-old woman from Diepsloot who drank the river water, also tested positive, but was not admitted to hospital.
The fourth case was a 10-year-old girl from Katlehong, who was admitted to Empilweni Private Hospital. Her mother had died the day before, after being admitted to hospital and treated for “different health conditions”, Mohale said.
“Cholera was not suspected by the clinicians, so no stool samples were taken for processing,” he said.
The girl and her mother had been baptised with other church members in the Klip River a week earlier.
None of the four people had recent international travel history, suggesting local transmission or infection.
Water samples would be collected from both rivers for contamination analysis.
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