A sixth case of cholera has been identified in South Africa, with the national Department of Health warning that there could be more to come as it awaits laboratory test results for more people with symptoms of the disease, and other possible contacts of people already diagnosed with it.
Department spokesperson Foster Mohale said about 150 possible contacts, mostly from Benoni, had been reached by tracing teams after a Benoni man, with no travel history, died last week after being admitted to Tambo Memorial Hospital.
The 24-year-old, originally from Pongola, KZN, was the country’s fifth case, and had lost his mother to an unrelated illness a few weeks ago, reports News24.
“One of his contacts is still in hospital and further investigation is being conducted. His body will be transported to KwaZulu-Natal for burial, and health officials will advise the family and undertakers of safe burial precautions to prevent the spread of the disease,” said Mohale.
The first two cases of cholera in the country were recorded in two sisters who had recently travelled to Malawi, which has been battered by a deadly outbreak, claiming more than 1 000 deaths in the past year.
The third case was recorded in the husband of one of the sisters – the first secondary transmitted case.
The fourth case was recorded in a 28-year-old man from Alexandra, who also had no travel history. He was admitted to Edenvale Hospital.
According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) spokesperson Sinenhlanhla Jimoh, the patients who have contracted the water-borne disease are all aged between 19 and 44.
He said there have been no reports of cases in other provinces, reports IOL.
“The first three cases were imported or import-related cases after travel to Malawi. Cases four and five acquired infection locally; they had not travelled, had no links to imported cases or to each other, and don’t reside or work in the same area. These two are classified as indigenous cases.
“The sixth case is newly reported and under investigation.”
Mohale said the department had ruled out possible contamination of water supplies, reports TimesLIVE.
“The Gauteng outbreak teams are monitoring immediate contacts, including at workplaces. At this stage there is no indication of contamination of public water resources with the bacteria,” Health Minister Joe Phaahla said on Sunday.
MMC for Health and Social Development Ennie Makhafola assured residents that “the City of Johannesburg health facilities are readily prepared and have adequate necessary supplies to manage cholera cases and contacts”, reports IOL.
“Our health department is working closely with the NICD and the WHO to monitor the situation.
“Health facilities are on the alert, and updated management guidelines are communicated. Environmental health management is taking relevant samples for investigation and response.”
IOL article – Cholera outbreak: six confirmed cases in Gauteng (Open access)
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