Health
Mpumalanga reports first fatality in cholera outbreak
The National Department of Health (NDoH) has announced the unfortunate occurrence of the first cholera case in Mpumalanga, resulting in the patient’s death.
The deceased was a 73-year-old female from Phake Thabeng in Dr JS Moroka, who was admitted to Mmametlhake Hospital last Friday after experiencing symptoms of diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting following a meal earlier in the day.
The woman, who suffered hypertension, took a cholera test that confirmed she had the disease. Her passing has brought the death toll to 25 since the Hammanskraal cholera outbreak, with 23 in Hammanskraal, one in the Free State, and one in Mpumalanga.
Also read: Health officials continuously tracing source of cholera – Says Phaahla
The health department has recommended the public maintain personal hygiene, remain vigilant, and get medical help if experiencing cholera symptoms. In addition, the Mpumalanga Health Department has dispatched an Outbreak Response Team to Dr JS Moroka for source investigation, contact tracing, and community awareness campaigns.
Communities must watch for cholera, a diarrhoeal disease caused by vibrio cholerae bacteria. Symptoms include sudden, painless, watery diarrhoea (resembling rice stool), nausea, vomiting, fever in children, and sometimes an absence of noticeable illness.
Pretoria Rekord says Tshwane has reported 99 cases, including seven new cases within the past 24 hours. Minister of Health Dr Joe Phaahla designated Tshwane as the outbreak epicentre, highlighting most cases in Kanana, Hammanskraal. Nevertheless, Phaahla expressed confidence in containing the outbreak despite the challenges faced.
Source: Cholera outbreak: Mpumalanga records first fatality
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Picture: Unsplash / Martha Dominguez de Gouveia
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