SOUTH AFRICA – South African health authorities have reported two confirmed cases of cholera imported from neighbouring Malawi, where an outbreak has claimed hundreds of lives.
The health department said two sisters who had travelled together from Johannesburg to Malawi to attend a funeral service there developed symptoms of cholera upon their return to the country.
“A close contact (household family member) of one of the patients was admitted to hospital on 4 February with diarrhoea and dehydration and is considered a possible case,” the health department said, adding that “laboratory test results are pending and follow-up of close contacts is ongoing.”
Malawi, which recorded a cholera outbreak last year, has so far lost over 1,000 people to the disease.
Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by the bacteria Vibrio cholerae, and outbreaks usually occur in settings with inadequate sanitation and insufficient access to safe drinking water. If left untreated, it could cause death.
South Africa’s health department has called for vigilance as the country detects its first cases, urging citizens to observe proper hygiene such as washing their hands with soap and water before and after using the toilet and before preparing or eating food.
The use of safe or disinfected water for preparing food, beverages and ice is recommended to prevent possible cholera transmission. Safe disposal of human excrement and nappies is recommended.
“Safe disposal of human excrement and nappies is recommended. The department is working closely with the affected province, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases and World Health Organisation to closely monitor the situation,” the department said.
“All people experiencing symptoms, such as diarrhoea and dehydration, with or without travel history to cholera outbreak countries, are urged to report to their nearest health facilities for health screening and early detection.”
The department said cholera is not endemic in South Africa. The last outbreak in the country was in 2008/2009 when about 12,000 cases were reported following an outbreak in Zimbabwe, which led to several imported cases and subsequent local transmission.
“That resulted from an outbreak in Zimbabwe, which led to a surge of imported cases and subsequent local transmission in Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces through contaminated water,” the department said.
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