lIMPOPO RECORDS ITS FIRST CONFIRMED CHOLERA CASE
Polokwane:Department of Health in Limpopo informs community members that the province has recorded its first case of cholera. The case has been confirmed by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases.
The case was confirmed at Musina Hospital. A 26 year old Zimbabwean national who presented at Musina Hospital on the 26th of May 2023 with extreme diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration. He was admitted, isolated, and treated, while specimens were sent to the NICD for test. Although the test results came out positive today, the patient has since improved and is due to be discharged. This positive case did not come as a surprise following reports that Beitbridge district in neighboring Zimbabwe is one of those districts that have reported outbreaks, and the department did confirm the state of readiness at Musina Hospital. State of readiness has also been strengthened in Belabela Hospital, which is bordering Gauteng’s Hamanskraal area where a number of cases have also been reported.
The department is strengthening its outbreak response work by means of survailance and also conducting health promotions working with local stakeholders in the hotspots area, including the Beitbridge boarder posts. The department has also met with the Vhembe District Municipality about the need to regularly conduct water tests as a preventative measure.
“We are calling upon all our communities to remain calm and vigilant by practicing basic hygiene, hand washing, drinking safe water,” said MEC Ramathuba
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