Cholera cases on the RISE in Gauteng

On Sunday the Department of Health said that it was concerned about the rise of cholera cases in Gauteng.

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11 CONFIRMED CHOLERA CASES IN GAUTENG

There have been 11 confirmed cholera cases recorded in Gauteng and it was reported that one person died.

“Of course, currently, the cases are detected in Gauteng, especially under the City of Johannesburg in Diepsloot and Ekurhuleni, but that does not mean other provinces are immune,” said the health department’s Foster Mohale.

ALSO READ: Cholera outbreak in Mozambique after Cyclone Freddy

“People travel from one province to another, one country to another… and currently our neighbouring countries like Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe are battling with an outbreak of cholera.”

Mozambique is now facing a cholera outbreak after Cyclone Freddy hit the country for a second time. There were over 19,000 confirmed cases of cholera across the country from 27 March.

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2 CASES TRAVELLED TO MALAWI

According to Mohale, at least eight of the eleven cases were in the Diepsloot community.

“We suspect that there must be some connection between the two cases from Malawi and the local infection. So far, our next suspected source of local transmission is the water from the Jukskei River.”

ALSO READ: WHO on cholera cases in Africa

A month ago, the World Health Organisation said that while cholera cases are falling across Africa, the number of deaths remains stable.

According to WHO, heavy rainfall in Malawi, as well as its neighbours South Africa and Zambia, is fuelling the spread of the disease. Medical teams are facing increased difficulties operating in areas where downpours have damaged roads and health infrastructure.

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