Hammanskraal Cholera outbreak death toll rises to 17

The Gauteng Department of Health have confirmed that the Hammanskraal Cholera outbreak death toll has risen to 17. 67 patients are currently admitted due to gastrointestinal infection.

The department says the Jubilee District Hospital has treated 165 cholera patients, 18 of whom have been transferred to other health facilities in Tshwane.

Also read: First Cholera case confirmed in Limpopo

The department has urged people to ensure proper hand hygiene. This includes thorough washing of hands with water and soap or alcohol-based sanitiser before handling food and after using the toilet.

Anyone experiencing diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and dehydration symptoms is encouraged to report to their nearest health facility for treatment.

The national department of Health said it had also alerted ports of entry in the country amid the outbreak.

Acting chief director of communicable diseases control in the department, Aneliswa Cele, said there was a high possibility of continued importation of cases to South Africa. Given the cholera outbreak in parts of Southern Africa.

Hammanskraal outbreak death toll rises

Meanwhile, Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink says It will cost about R2.5-billion to fix the Hammanskraal water infrastructure.

Blink has blamed the deteriorating infrastructure of the township on previous administrations led by the ANC. He says if upgrades had been done sooner, Hammanskraal wouldn’t be experiencing water woes.

Blink added that the city doesn’t have enough budget and is willing to partner with the national government to resolve the crisis.

“This crisis and tragedy have cast light. Again once more, on the fact the successive administrations in the city of Tshwane have failed the people of Hammanskraal. The essence of the problem is that the Rooival Wastewater Treatment Plant is biologically and hydraulically overloaded. It has been out of capacity since about 2005,” he said.

Experts have also called on the City to release the test results on whether the water there is contaminated. They are also being accused of accepting a false conclusion and trying to wash their hands off the problem.