Two cases of cholera have been recorded in South Africa, attributed to two sisters from Johannesburg who visited Malawi for a funeral, according to Health Department spokesperson Foster Mohale.
He said lab test results were pending and follow-up of close contacts was going, and that Health Minister Joe Phaahla has called for vigilance.
The siblings had returned from Malawi by bus on 30 January, and both developed symptoms on their return, reports News24.
“One presented to a clinic and was then admitted to the hospital. During the investigation and follow-up, the other sister reported that she developed diarrhoea while travelling back from Malawi. It (was) resolved within a day, and she did not seek healthcare.”
Another relative belonging to the household of one of the sisters was admitted to hospital on 4 February with diarrhoea and dehydration, and was considered a possible case.
“Health officials at the ports of entry remain on alert for travellers arriving from countries experiencing cholera outbreak,” said Mohale, adding that cholera was not endemic to South Africa, and the last outbreak was in 2008/9, with about 12 000 cases.
News24 article – Health minister calls for vigilance as SA records two cholera cases (Open access)
See more from LegalBrief archives:
Oral cholera vaccine to be produced by SA’s Biovac
UCT hits back at newspaper’s fake news cholera scare
Vigilance urged after Limpopo reports first cholera case
NICD confirms cholera in traveller returning from Zimbabwe