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KZN typhoid tests continue
27/10/2005 10:41 - (SA)
Durban - Tests on water in Nongoma and Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal were continuing on Thursday after three people died of suspected typhoid fever, the provincial health department said.
Spokesperson Desmond Motha said it wasn't yet known when the results of the tests would be available as many water supply systems needed to be checked.
In Nongoma three people died between September and Sunday, and two people were currently sick.
In Newcastle five members of a family were admitted to hospital with diarrhoea, a symptom of typhoid infection.
The family fell ill earlier this month after eating meat from a cow slaughtered on a neighbouring farm.
He said the cow was slaughtered because it had given birth to a calf which died. The neighbours had not fallen ill.
"We are not worried about the water [in the area]... they have good running toilets," Motha said.
However tests were being conducted as a precautionary measure.
Between March and September this year, 30 cases of typhoid were confirmed throughout the province. These cases were mainly from areas where there was a lack of sanitation and clean water.
Typhoid is endemic to the province and education programmes were continuing.
- SAPA
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