Dept denies cholera reports

2008-11-19 17:33

Sydney Masinga

Musina - Limpopo's health department has denied reports that 19 people have died of cholera in Musina.

Provincial health and social development spokesperson, Phuti Seloba, said on Wednesday that only two people had died of the disease at Musina hospital on Tuesday, where 54 cholera cases have been reported since Saturday.

"None of the patients are South African, but all came from Zimbabwe for treatment," he said. "And media reports that 19 people have died are not true."

He said 38 of the patients had already been discharged and only 14 were still receiving treatment.

He said Musina hospital was not equipped to cope with a cholera outbreak on its own and three re-hydration centres had therefore been established at the Beitbridge border post to help Zimbabweans who have turned to South Africa for medical care.

"We re-hydrate them at the centres because cholera is characterised by severe, watery diarrhoea that may lead to people dying of dehydration," he explained.

Seloba said of the 54 patients, 20 were treated and discharged on Saturday. He said by Tuesday evening they still had 14 patients who are still receiving treatment at the Musina hospital.

Zimbabwe, including the capital city of Harare, is currently in the grip of a severe cholera outbreak as water services collapse.

Doctors warn that the situation will get even worse when the rains start in earnest.

Wilson Dzebu, spokesperson of the Musina local municipality, said that the municipality had tested all the water sources around Musina and found no signs of cholera.

"We are liaising on a daily basis with the provincial department of health to make sure that none of our citizens [are] infected or affected by cholera," he said.

- African Eye