EThekwini rejects E.coli-related hospitalisation scare

The EThekwini Municipality has not only distanced but rejected any unverified information about E.coli-related hospitalisations in Durban.

ETHEKWINI WARNS AGAINST MISLEADING VOICE NOTE

In a statement, the EThekwini Municipality said it has become aware of a misleading voice note making the rounds on social media platforms about people who have been admitted to various hospitals in the City suffering from E.coli-related infections. In addition to the voice note, there are claims that a teenager is hospitalised after swimming at UShaka Beach.

“The Municipality can confirm that the voice note is false and is trying to scare the public from visiting the City’s beaches. The municipality has been in contact with hospitals in the City including those that are mentioned in the voice note.”

EThekwini Municipality

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HOSPITALS DENY ANY MASS E.COLI-RELATED ADMISSIONS

The City says all the hospitals denied the claims of mass hospitalisations linked to e.coli-related infections.

“The voice note and post about the teenager are therefore rejected with the contempt they deserve. They are nothing but attempts to dissuade fun-loving South Africans from enjoying themselves at eThekwini beaches.
They are part of a relentless campaign to capitalise on flood damages to redirect visitors away from eThekwini. When Durbanites and visitors reject the campaign and visit beaches in their thousands, the detractors now resort to spreading fake news.”

“The public is called upon to reject this latest attempt and to rather question who stands to benefit from the lies being peddled about Durban beaches.
Thousands of Durbanites work in the hospitality industry and any attempts to destabilise this industry must be rejected and those driving the misinformation campaign must be called out as the liars that they are,” Ethekwini Municipality cautioned.

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BEACHES UNDER CONSTANT SUPERVISION

According to the City, UShaka Beach has been safe and compliant since the beginning of December.

“It was tested on December 1st, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 8th, 15th , 16th, 17th, 20th and 21st. On all these days E.coli readings were well below the 500 threshold, thus rendering as fake the claim that the teenager has been hospitalised as a result of an E.coli-related infection.”

“The Municipality’s experts are constantly monitoring water quality at all city beaches to ensure the safety of visitors and residents. Only beaches whose water quality is at an acceptable standard are open. Beaches whose water quality is poor are closed and the public will be advised when it’s safe to use them,” the City advised.

It further reminded the public that peddling fake news is a criminal offence.