Neelam Rahim |  neelam@radioislam.co.za

2-minute read
02 March 2023 | 16:21 CAT

Image: SA News

The Health Department has announced that the country has seen its first Cholera death as more cases are being detected. On Tuesday, Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla announced that this is the first Cholera-related death, as more cases are being detected in South Africa.

This follows an announcement of three cases a few weeks ago. The 4th case is a 28-year-old male residing in Alexandra Township with no local or international travel history.

Speaking to Radio Islam International, the Health Department’s Foster Mohale said the disease had been detected in the province of Gauteng, the areas of Diepsloot, Alexander, Ekuruleni and Benoni.

The Department of Health is trying to establish if there is a link between the cases in Diepsloot with mainly imported cases in Malawi alongside the two cases detected in Alexander and Benoni.

A door-to-door and street-to-street outreach campaign was conducted in the area of Benoni to educate people on preventative methods and the screening of people. Mohale said the campaign reached around 150 people, of which only two have tested positive in the area where the deceased has passed.

Cholera mainly spreads through contaminated/polluted water.

People can become infected directly through drinking contaminated water or indirectly through eating contaminated food.

Symptoms include diarrhoea, dehydration, vomiting and body weakness.

Public members are reminded to maintain hand hygiene to prevent possible transmission.

All people who experience cholera-like symptoms, with or without local or international travel history, are encouraged immediately visit their nearest health facility for screening and testing to ensure early detection and successful treatment if they test positive.

Listen to the interview on Your World Today with Mufti Yusuf Moosagie.