21 February 2006
The outbreak of diarrhoea, which hit the small town of Bloemhof near
Wolmaranstad in the North West since Monday, 13 February 2006, and accounted
for over 797 cases of treated patients, is now stabilising.
Yesterday (Monday, 20 February) a multi-sectoral outbreak response team met
to access the situation over the past week and reflect on the preliminary water
samples tests results. Since the outbreak was reported last week, the
Department can confirm that, there are no cases of deaths as a result of the
outbreak in the area and furthermore we managed to establish that there is no
link between the cases reported in Vryburg and that of Bloemhof.
Similarly, out of the meeting we were able to establish and confirm that
there is a link between diarrhoea cases in Bloemhof and contaminated water
coming from Bloemhof dam.
Sedibeng water, the water supply authority in the area, and Lekwa-Teemaneng
Municipality will with effect from today supply the affected communities with
tank water. This is done in addition to the purification methods we have sent
to communities. "I am appealing to our communities to continue boiling water
before use or use one spoon of Jik in a 25 litre container and keep overnight
before usage," explained Health MEC Nomonde Rasmeni.
We have also increased the supply of medication, to the affected clinics and
other health facilities to enable us to deal with possible overflow of cases.
Furthermore the multi-sectoral team will continue to do daily water supply
tests and do the microbiological tests from patient's stools and health
promotion and awareness in schools and churches.
The reason we will be placing water tanks in the affected area is to allow
those communities that are unable to do basic purification like boiling water
or using Jik, access to clean and safe water while further tests and
purification process are being done.
The multi-sectoral team that is working on this outbreak daily is made up of
Local Municipality, Lekwa-Teemaneng, Health Department, Department of Water
Affairs and Forestry, Sedibeng Water and Dairy Bell, a local diary factor in
the area.
âWe will be monitoring the situation on a daily basis and some of Water
Affairs departmental expects are working with us to help the municipality deal
with the challenge of contaminated water, however the situation is currently
under control and there is no need for panic,â added Rasmeni.
Enquiries:
Barba Gaoganediwe
Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: (018) 3875830
Cell: 082 929 9958
E-mail: kgaoganediwe@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Heath, North West Provincial Government
21 February 2006
