In a statement on Wednesday, MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko said 165 patients had been seen at the Jubilee District Hospital, with 18 patients having been transferred to other medical facilities in Tshwane.
“The number of laboratory-confirmed cases of cholera is standing at 29. To date, 17 people have passed on from the disease outbreak. Currently 67 patients are admitted due to gastrointestinal infection,” she said.
This comes following the department’s confirmation of a cholera outbreak at the weekend.
The MEC said that from May 15, some of the residents of Kanana, Suurman, Majaneng, Green Field, Carousel View, Lephengville and Sekampaneng were treated at the Jubilee District Hospital after they presented with cholera symptoms.
The department has urged people to ensure proper hand-hygiene which includes the thorough washing of hands with water and soap or alcohol-based sanitiser before handling food and after using the toilet.
In March, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases sounded the alarm following the confirmation of four cases. At the time, the NICD said that while there was an ongoing risk for imported cases following travel from other African countries experiencing cholera outbreaks, especially Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe, the increasing number of locally acquired indigenous cases was concerning.
