6 January 2009
The number of cholera cases both confirmed and suspected so far seem to be
confined largely to two (2) of the country's nine (9) provinces. This has
emerged from the Situation Report (SITREP 27) of the National Outbreak
Committee meeting held on 5 January 2009 in Pretoria.
The Committee held its first meeting of 2009 in Pretoria yesterday to take
stock of the number of cholera cases in the country since the first outbreak
was reported late last year. Based on the report, including the epidemiological
data, figures suggest that Limpopo still has the highest case load of cholera
cases followed by Gauteng with 21 confirmed cases.
In other provinces, isolated suspected cases have been reported and the
health authorities in those provinces are conducting tests aimed at determining
the true patient situation.
As most people, including foreign nationals, travel back to their homes
after the December holidays, the health department is heightening its health
awareness campaign as part of preventing the spread of the disease. Cholera
treatment guidelines have also been distributed to all the country's provinces
to empower healthcare workers to deal with suspected and confirmed cholera
cases as well as infection control.
Environmental health officers have also been deployed in all high-risk areas
to educate members of the public about cholera and how to avoid it. These
high-risk areas are largely areas with poor sanitation and low toilet coverage,
exposing residents to increased risks of exposure to cholera.
The Department of Health appeals to members of the public not to panic.
Instead, people are called upon to follow basic hygiene measures such as
washing of hands after visits to toilets, washing fruit and vegetables before
eating them. For people who may be in high-risk areas it is still advisable to
boil water before using it.
For more information please contact:
Fidel Hadebe
Cell: 079 517-3333.
Issued by: Department of Health
6 January 2009
