The first case of the Cholera outbreak has been confirmed in Limpopo after a public servant employee who traveled to Hammanskraal for a training course.
The 52-year-old man from Greater Giyani works in the Musina area. He is said to have traveled to Hammanskraal for a workshop in the past few days. The Man was admitted to a hospital in Gauteng after presenting with the symptoms. He has since been treated and discharged from the hospital.
Also read: Hammanskraal residents cautioned amid cholera outbreak
Limpopo Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba advises the public to remain vigilant.
The department has also urged community members to practice general hygiene as well as water and food hygiene by;
-Washing of hands regularly and every time when coming from the toilet as well as before preparing food or using sanitizer where there is no water.
-boil or chlorinate water before drinking.
Also read: Limpopo club Marumo relegated from DStv Premiership
Symptoms of cholera include profuse watery diarrhea, sometimes described as “rice-water stools,” vomiting, thirst, leg cramps, restlessness, or irritability. The infection is often mild or without symptoms but can sometimes be severe and life-threatening. Community members are advised to visit their nearest health facility for tests and treatment as soon as they experience these symptoms.
Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with Vibrio cholerae bacteria. People can get sick when they swallow food or water contaminated with cholera bacteria. A number of cholera cases have already been confirmed in the area. Currently, we saw an outbreak of cholera cases in Hammaskraal with 10 deaths recorded. The Vhembe, Mopani and Waterberg response teams have been activated. Contact tracing at Giyani and Musina was done where screening results cleared everyone.
