No confirmed Typhoid cases in J.B Marks

Following chain messages claiming there are Typhoid cases in the J.B. Marks local municipality, the North West Health MEC Madoda Sambatha has called on the communities to remain calm while vigilant as there are no confirmed cases in the area.

The Department can however confirm that the Matlosana Sub District has reported cases.  MEC Sambatha said that the Centre for Enteric Diseases (CED) at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) which oversees enteric fever surveillance activities has alerted the Province to the fact that the Matlosana sub-district has a total of 21 laboratory confirmed cases of typhoid fever which were detected from the period November 2020 – February 2022.  “The latest is that only four (4) cases were reported in the current year (January 2022 – February 2022). These were two adults aged between 15-49 and two children aged below 14 years old. All the recent cases are from the Khuma area in Matlosana. There are currently no hospital admissions”, said Sambatha. 

Typhoid fever is a systemic illness caused by a bacterial infection with Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serotype Typhi or serotypes Paratyphi A, B or C. It is spread by faeco-oral contact, or through contaminated food or water. People who have contracted the fever may spread it to others if sanitation is poor. The Department of Health continues to work together with relevant stakeholders in their response to managing Typhoid infections and these include Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality, the NICD, National Health Laboratories Service and the South African Field Epidemiology Training Program (SAFETP).  Of the 21 cases, 16 (76%) were caused by the same strain, which indicates a particular source point. The strain has been in circulation in Matlosana sub-district since November 2020. There were patients who were confirmed to be illegal miners and other cases linked with household contacts who work as miners. There was a travel history in some of these cases (4 cases of 2022) outside the country and investigations are continuing.  “The link of these cases with the illegal miners called “Zama Zamas” is concerning and we are calling on law enforcement agencies to help address this serious risk”, said  Sambatha . Public health prevention and control measures: Individuals can protect themselves and their families from typhoid fever and many other infections by following these important preventive measures: Hand hygiene: Wash hands with soap and safe water: 

• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before and after eating food
• Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick (especially if they have diarrhoea)
• After using the toilet
• After changing diapers/nappies or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet

Food safety practice: Follow the World Health Organization’s five keys to safer food: keep food clean; separate raw and cooked food; cook thoroughly; keep food at safe temperatures and use safe water as well as raw materials. Washing hands with soap and water before, during and after preparing food and before eating, is especially important. Using safe water: If people are concerned about the quality of water they use for drinking and cooking, then it is recommended to treat the water first by boiling it (place water in a clean container and bring to a boil for 1 minute) or treating it with household bleach (add 1 teaspoon of household bleach (containing 5% chlorine) to 20-25 litres of water, mix well and leave it to stand for at least 30 minutes before use). The Dr Kenneth Kaunda district municipality has tested water around the area and in the affected households of the cases. There was no evidence that drinking water is contaminated with Typhoid. Furthermore, the municipality continues to do water quality monitoring on a monthly basis in the Matlosana sub-district.  The Department continues to raise awareness and encourage the communities in Matlosana to take precautions by hand hygiene, food safety and safe water.