Man diagnosed with cholera in Alldays
The case involves a migrant farm worker from Zimbabwe working and living in Alldays.
POLOKWANE – A case of cholera has been confirmed in Alldays, in the Blouburg area, the Limpopo Department of Health confirmed.
Spokesperson for the department, Neil Shikwambana, says the case involves a migrant farm worker from Zimbabwe working and living in Alldays who is believed to have visited Zimbabwe two weeks back and upon return he visited Alldays clinic with acute watery diarrhea and vomiting.
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“The man was then transferred to Helena Franz hospital for further management. Upon performing laboratory checks on specimen taken from the patient, a case of cholera was confirmed. The clinical isolate has been sent to the National Institute for Communicable Disease (Centre for Enteric disease) for further analysis,” Shikwambana said.
The department has activated the District Outbreak Response Team and acted promptly and will be conducting further epidemiological and environmental investigations at the farm and all possible risk areas. The patient is in a stable condition, receiving medical treatment.
The department has urged communities to be vigilant and practice proper hygiene and sanitation practices such as :
• Washing your hands after visiting the toilet with soap and running water
• Washing hands before and after eating
• Washing vegetables and fruits before eating
• Drinking water from safe source or sterilizing /boiling before consumption
• Ensure that food is thoroughly cooked
“Cholera can affect people of any age and symptoms include sudden watery diarrhea with or without vomiting or severe dehydration. The department calls upon anyone coming down with any of these symptoms to quickly visit the nearest health facility,” Shikwambana concluded.
