The public’s concerns and questions around the possibility of typhoid fever originating from tap water prompted the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) and Rand Water to respond.
The NICD noted in a statement on Monday morning, February 21 that, “Cases of typhoid fever have been confirmed in Gauteng, the Western Cape and the North West. It is important to note that contamination of municipal water is extremely unlikely to be the source of infection in any of these clusters, due to the demographics of the cases (including their age profiles, places of residence, source(s) of drinking water and access to improved sanitation).”
Later in the day the Institute added, “There are numerous social media posts with false information about enteric fever in South Africa that are attracting widespread attention and causing needless concern and panic at the moment.
“These posts allege either that there are currently cases of enteric fever in certain towns or provinces caused by contaminated municipal water, or that the bacteria causing enteric fever have been identified in certain municipal sources.
There is no evidence that recent cases of enteric fever are linked to contaminated municipal water in any part of the country, and there is no evidence that the bacteria causing enteric fever have recently been identified in municipal water sources anywhere in the country.”
Rand Water, which supplies water to the West Rand, among other areas also said in a statement, “The recent typhoid cases, reported in the news, have not been linked to tap water. Rand Water’s drinking water treatment processes are effective in inactivating harmful bacteria. Rand Water maintains intensive water-quality monitoring programmes.
“Escherichia coli, a bacterium that is used as an indicator for the presence of faecal pollution and disease-causing organisms such as Salmonella Typhi (aka typhoid) has not been detected in the drinking water supplied by Rand Water. Drinking water supplied by Rand Water complies with drinking water standards and is safe for human consumption.”
The NICD explained that, in general, the bacteria can be transmitted when persons who practice poor hygiene infect another person through the faecal-oral route, for example when handling food or water.
Prevention includes washing hands regularly with soap and safe water before eating or preparing food, and after using the toilet or changing a diaper.
Possible symptoms include:
• Fever, which is often high and can last for many days or even weeks
• Headache
• Lethargy and fatigue
• Nausea
• Abdominal pain, in many cases
• Diarrhoea or constipation, in some cases
