Pretoria – Two cases of cholera have been confirmed in Limpopo, where authorities said on Monday that the disease had been brought across the border from Zimbabwe, which is experiencing a massive outbreak.
Commenting on the worrying development, Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Sibongiseni Dhlomo urged the public to be vigilant and maintain personal hygiene.
The deputy minister said South Africa has recorded two laboratory-confirmed cases of cholera in Limpopo.
“Both cases are imported from Zimbabwe,” Deputy Minister Dr. Dhlomo said.
Hundreds of people have succumbed to cholera in Zimbabwe, which has failed to deal with the easily treatable disease owing to a failing healthcare system, poor sanitation, and the lack of clean water in urban areas.
Tap water in that country is not safe and residents are advised to boil it before drinking.
Although South Africa has put measures at the Beitbridge Border Post to prevent the disease from spreading into the country, Deputy Minister Dr. Dhlomo said the first case was confirmed in the Musina sub-district in Vhembe District.
A 43-year-old male patient tested positive and has since been discharged from Musina Hospital.
A second case is of a 27-year-old man, also from Zimbabwe, who presented at Helen Franz Hospital under Capricorn District Municipality, with a history of abdominal cramps, watery diarrhoea and vomiting that started on 11 January 2024.
“The patient travelled to Zimbabwe on 9 December 2023 and returned to South Africa on 10 January 2024,” said Deputy Minister Dr. Dhlomo.
“His health condition is stable and still in isolation at the hospital.
“His contacts were identified, and the local outbreak response team has been activated to conduct further investigations and provide health education to contacts.”
Dr. Dhlomo said South Africa remains on high alert for possible imported cholera cases from neighbouring Zimbabwe, which has been battling the outbreak of the disease since February last year.
The Department of Health in collaboration with the Border Management Authority, has intensified health screening at the Beitbridge Border Post to mitigate against the imported cholera cases from Zimbabwe.
Deputy Minister Dr. Dhlomo thanked the cholera patients for being honest with their travel history and full cooperation with health officials.
The deputy minister appealed to all those with a travel history to cholera outbreak areas to do the same to save lives and prevent further transmission to other people.
“We say to all travellers along N1 from Musina and other parts of the country, please avoid using known or suspected contaminated surfaces, especially in public places, and wash hands thoroughly with soap before handling food or after using the bathroom to prevent possible infection,” said Dr. Dlhomo.
The Department of Health advised that anyone who experiences cholera-like symptoms (stomach cramps, diarrhoea, dehydration, and vomiting), with or without a travel history to cholera endemic countries and areas, is urged to present themselves to the nearest health facility without delay.
“Never drink water from unsafe sources such as rivers, dams, or streams, unless boiled or disinfected first.”
