Health Department confirms the sixth Cholera case

The Department of Health would like to confirm that the country has recorded one more laboratory-confirmed case of Cholera, and this increases the total number of cases to six (6).

The case/patient is a 19-year old female residing in Emandleni informal settlement in Benoni, Ekurhuleni District in Gauteng.

The patient was identified by the Outbreak Response Team during contact tracing and social mobilization activities where over 1160 people were reached.

She was one of the two people who exhibited signs and symptoms of Cholera who were referred to hospital for testing. Her test results came back positive and she was given treatment, and recovering well.

The health officials will intensify contact tracing and health education in the affected areas.

Although, there is no need for the public to panic, the department is concerned about the rising number of Cholera cases, and urges all people who experience Cholera symptoms, with or without local or international travel history, to visit their nearest health facility. Cholera is presentable and curable.

The department is yet to establish a local source of Cholera transmission in the country, but people are reminded to practice hand hygiene and avoid drinking or preparing food with untreated water from the rivers or dams.

Source: Government of South Africa