Health Dept warns of diarrhoeal outbreak, cholera
The national Heath Department has urged the public to take extra hygiene-precaution amid a diarrhoeal disease outbreak and rising cholera cases in the country.
Diarrhoeal disease is a common and often highly infectious condition that affects the stomach and intestines.
The department has been informed of cases of people with gastrointestinal symptoms in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria in the past few days.
This has led to over 50 people receiving medical care at Jubilee Hospital.
Six people have so far lost their lives.
Department spokesperson Foster Mohale says the number of positive cholera cases has increased to 22, following the detection of four more cases in Gauteng and seven cases in the Free State.
"Individuals generally become ill 12 to 48 hours after exposure. Some of the common symptoms include diarrhoea, cramps, nausea, vomiting and low-grade fever.”
Mohale has urged the public to avoid known or suspected contaminated foods, water and surfaces, and wash hands thoroughly with soap.
"The provincial and district outbreak response teams in both provinces have been dispatched to the affected communities to further investigate the source of the outbreaks, and intensify health education and promotion to empower the community members with health information," he said.
