Sekhukhune Municipality confirms Typhiod outbreak in parts of the district
Typhoid has been tested positive in the water that flows in a canal that runs parallel the affected villages
LIMPOPO – Communities of Stykraal, Tswaing, Mooiplaas, Vlakplaas and surrounding are warned of the outbreak of typhoid disease in the area.
Sekhukhune Municipality spokesperson, Willy Mosoma says Typhoid has been tested positive in the water that flows in a canal that runs parallel the affected villages.
You might also want to read: Lim on alert for Typhoid
Earlier during November, more than 60 children from nearby schools where hospitalized after consuming water from the canal.
Two of those learners have since passed away after drinking the contaminated water.
Typhoid is an acute illness associated with fever caused by Salmonella typhi bacteria or paratyphi. This infectious disease is waterborne and can be contracted through food or water.
Symptoms listed by www.medicinenet.com includes poor appetite, abdominal pain, fever, intestinal bleeding or perforation (usually after two to three weeks), diarrhoea or constipation, abdominal pain, headaches and lethargy.
“First of all, condolences to the bereaved families and we wish speedy recovery to all those who are badly affected by the contaminated water. We can confirm that following the test conducted at the CSIR, from water samples taken during the time of the incident from the canal, typhoid disease was detected in the water. Therefore, it is important that we inform our communities about the outbreak of the disease. And on that spirit, request our people to refrain from consuming the water. We have placed measures in place to start distributing clean and portable water to the affected areas. The department of water and sanitation are repairing all breakdowns in the affected areas so that people can be supplied with portable water. We are pleased to note remarkable progress in this regard and we committed to making sure all people in those areas get water” said Sekhukhune’s Executive Mayor, Stan Ramaila.
The district municipality will continue engaging with the affected communities regarding healthy ways to consume water.
“Part of finding an everlasting solution to this problem, is the historic establishment of the District Water and Sanitation Forum, which took place on the 30th November 2017 in Ga Nkoana village. This forum seeks to achieve direct and speedy communications between members of the community and government. We anticipate that through this historic forum, which is the first since the establishment of this municipality in the year 2000, we will be able to curb service delivery protest since there will be direct communications between communities, officials of government and political leadership” concluded Ramaila.
