The province has five confirmed Cholera cases. Sadly, the fifth case resulted in the death of a patient who had earlier presented with profuse watery diarrhoea and was admitted at Tambo Memorial Hospital where his results confirmed positive. The first three people who tested positive for Cholera have since fully recovered, while the fourth person is recovering well at home.

“We can never over emphasise the importance of the public visiting the nearest health facilities when they present with mild to severe and watery diarrhoea and dehydration symptoms. Furthermore, the practice of proper hand-hygiene which includes thorough washing of hands with water and soap before and after using the bathroom and also when handling food is quite critical,” explains MEC Nkomo–Ralehoko.

The department’s Outbreak Response and Surveillance Teams have already traced a total of 12 close contacts of the deceased 24-year-old male from Emandleni informal settlement in Wattville.

A mobile clinic was dispatched to the informal settlement this week where individuals were screened in the area and 2 people were referred to Tambo Memorial Hospital with signs and symptoms suggestive of Cholera. Health education continues to be conducted to the family members, neighbours and the community at large.

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