A water tanker delivers to residents of Hammanskraal on Monday after the residents were warned not to drink water from their taps. Photo: Gallo Images/Daily Maverick/Felix Dlangamandla
As South Africa grapples with a cholera outbreak and an escalating number of confirmed cases, the City of Ekurhuleni is urging its residents to step up their hygiene game.
It should be noted, however, that no cases of the diarrhoeal disease has been reported in Ekurhuleni.
Ekurhuleni is on high alert after the neighbouring region of Hammanskraal has been hit hard by the cholera outbreak, with 15 lives lost.
Ekurhuleni’s spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said the city’s outbreak response teams are ready to respond to any cholera cases detected.
Dlamini said the city has ramped up health education for the empowerment of communities as well.
“Our water remains clean and safe to use,” Dlamini assures residents.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health confirmed a troubling increase in the cumulative number of positive cholera cases, which now stands at 22.
This includes newly detected cases in Gauteng and Free State’s Vredefort and Parys.
In response, government said provincial and district outbreak response teams in Gauteng and Free State have been dispatched to investigate the source of the outbreak.
“The response teams will also intensify health education and promotion to empower community members with health information.”
While technical teams will be “working with the affected provinces in response to the outbreak”, the task team will “probe the cholera outbreak”.
The diarrhoeal disease, a widespread and often highly contagious condition affecting the stomach and intestines, is a primary cause of child mortality worldwide.
According to Unicef, more than 1.1 billion people are at risk of contracting cholera, with children under the age of 5 especially vulnerable.
It’s typically spread through contact with an infected individual, or by consuming contaminated food and water.
Symptoms usually appear within 12 to 48 hours after exposure and include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, vomiting and a mild fever.
Government urges citizens to avoid consuming food or water suspected to be contaminated, and to steer clear of surfaces which may be contaminated.
Frequent and thorough handwashing with soap, especially before handling food or after using the bathroom, is strongly encouraged to prevent possible infection.
“Never drink water from unsafe sources such as rivers, dams, streams, unless boiled or disinfected first,” warned the city officials.
The Department of Health will keep the public updated regarding the cholera outbreak.
READ: Hammanskraal outbreak: Zero cholera detected in piped water supply