Typhoid strikes Sekhukhune

Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM) announced last Friday that cases of typhoid had been reported in Sekhukhune District during the last month and residents were warned to refrain from drinking water from unreliable sources.
Willy Mosoma, SDM Spokesperson stated in a media release that the communities of Stryd­kraal, Tswaing, Mooiplaas, Vlakplaas and surrounds should take note that water flowing in the canal running parallel with the villages had tested positive for typhoid. “Earlier during the month, more than 60 children from nearby schools were hospitalised after consuming water from the canal,” Mosoma reported. It has since also been confirmed that two of the learners had died.
“We can confirm that tests conducted by Council for Scientific and Industrial Research on water samples taken during the time of the incident confirmed typhoid that the disease had been 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 that water,” SDM Executive Mayor Stanley Ramaila is quoted to have said. According to Ramaila, the municipality had placed measures in place to start distributing clean and potable water to the affected areas. “I have also directed our water department to henceforth repair all breakdowns in the affected areas so that people can be supplied with potable water and we are pleased to note remarkable progress in this regard,” Ramaila said.
Ramaila confirmed that SDM will continue to engage with the affected communities regarding healthy ways to consume water.

Story: BARRY VILJOEN
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