Cholera Infections: Important Information to Know

Authorities have issued a warning to residents, urging them to exercise caution and follow strict hygiene practices to prevent potential cholera infections. The government has emphasised the importance of avoiding known or suspected contaminated food, water, and surfaces while also emphasising the need for thorough handwashing with soap, especially before handling food or after using the bathroom.

Nomagugu Hloma, the communication officer of West Rand’s District Health Services, stressed the significance of prevention in combating cholera. With recent reports of cholera outbreaks in areas like Hammanskraal, raising awareness about the cholera bacteria has become crucial.

Hloma emphasised the importance of avoiding contaminated food, water, and surfaces, alongside thorough handwashing practices. She also recommended purifying water by adding household bleach or boiling it for at least one full minute, then storing it in clean, covered containers. Proper hand hygiene was also highlighted as a key preventive measure.

According to health services data, cholera is primarily transmitted through the consumption of contaminated water or food. It can also spread when infected individuals handle food without proper handwashing or discharge waste into water sources. Communities relying on unclean water for drinking or washing utensils are particularly vulnerable.

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In the event of diarrhoea, affected individuals are advised to prepare a homemade oral rehydration solution. This involves boiling one litre of water, adding eight teaspoons of sugar and half a teaspoon of salt, and thoroughly mixing the ingredients.

Chetan Mistry, the strategy and marketing manager at Xylem Africa, provided historical context on cholera outbreaks, noting their devastating impact in various regions. Mistry emphasised the role of clean water in combating dangerous diseases, expressing concern over the recent resurgence of cholera in South Africa and the subsequent loss of lives.

Mistry highlighted wastewater treatment sites as vital for reversing the cholera outbreak and preventing future occurrences. He suggested decentralised treatment systems, efficient water data systems management, addressing power supply issues during load-shedding, cost-effective interventions, skill development, and community involvement as key strategies in improving wastewater treatment facilities.

Cholera outbreaks indicate inadequate wastewater treatment facilities, emphasising the need for long-term solutions. Combining modern water system innovations with existing infrastructure and community participation can help ensure clean and safe water for all South Africans, ultimately fulfilling their fundamental right to access clean water.

Source: Cholera: What you need to know …

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Photo by Anna Shvets