Diarrhoea cases surge

2008-11-24 19:24

Sydney Masinga

Carolina - Municipal officials started a door-to-door campaign in Carolina, Mpumalanga, on Monday after nearly 700 people contracted diarrhoea in the past two weeks.

Residents will be taught ways to prevent contracting the disease, which had infected 665 people between November 11 and Friday morning.

"Nine are currently admitted at Carolina hospital, five of whom are children and four of whom are adults. One of the adults is in a critical condition," said spokesperson for the Albert Luthuli local municipality, Sbusiso Radebe.

He blamed the outbreak on heavy rains that had flooded the local water supply system.

"Preliminary tests of municipal water sources proved that there was less chlorine in our water supply because of the recent heavy rains. This is suspected to have caused the outbreak," he said.

Chlorine levels raised

He said the council had raised chlorine levels in the water and that the situation had stabilised by Thursday.

He said more water samples had been sent for laboratory tests, however, but that the results were not yet available.

A similar outbreak was reported in October 2007 following heavy rains similar to the current rainfall being experienced in the area.

"The recent rains caused damage in and around Carolina and left the area without water and electricity for a few days, so we would like to appeal to residents that if they have an upset stomach they must go directly to their nearest health centre to be tested for diarrhoea," Radebe explained.

In an average week, about 13 cholera cases are reported in the area.

Provincial health spokesperson Mpho Gabashane said the Provincial Medical Joint Operations Committee (MJOC), which is coordinating the response to the outbreak in terms of the Disaster Management Act, had met to draw up intervention measures and monitor the outbreak in the area.

The committee includes representatives of the departments of local government, water affairs and forestry, health, agriculture and land administration and the Albert Luthuli local municipality.

Purifying water

"Communities in and around Carolina have been advised to purify their water before using it for cooking and drinking purposes until the MJOC gives their water a clean bill," said Gabashane.

Residents are advised to boil water for at least three minutes or pour one teaspoon of household bleach in 20 litres of water that has been filtered through a clean, cotton cloth. Blend the mixture well and wait 30 minutes before use.

The purified water should be stored in a clean, sealable container.

In the mean time, the department of health has activated all surveillance and health promotion teams in the area to monitor the situation and educate communities about how to protect themselves.

On Wednesday, MJOC officials will also check hygiene standards at fast food outlets in the area.

- African Eye