A three-year-old child is the youngest victim of the recent cholera outbreak.

The number of confirmed cholera cases recorded at the Jubilee Hospital now sits at 44 since the weekend.

The Gauteng Department of Health reported that the confirmed cases had risen from 29 the previous day to 44 yesterday, while 21 people had since died from the cholera disease.

Since the weekend, dozens of people from Kanana, Suurman, Majaneng, Green Field, Carousel View, Lephengville, and Sekampaneng have been hospitalised with symptoms of diarrhea, stomach cramps, and nausea.

Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba, giving an update on the cholera outbreak, said over the past few days, the department had been grappling with the health crisis in Hammanskraal.

He said 203 patients were hospitalised for cholera at the Jubilee District Hospital (as of yesterday), while 22 other patients were being transferred to hospitals such as Dr George Mukhari academic hospital and the Steve Biko academic hospital in Tshwane.

“Currently, 74 patients are admitted due to gastrointestinal infections,” said Modiba.

Modiba said the department was continuing to urge people to ensure proper bodily hygiene, which includes thorough hand washing with water and soap or alcohol-based sanitiser before handling food and after using the toilet.

“We advise the public to report to their nearest health facilities when they present with diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and dehydration symptoms, so they can receive medical treatment.

“We further reiterate the call for the public to avoid consuming known or suspected contaminated food and water.”