'No cholera outbreak in E Cape'

2009-01-07 13:25

Sturkspruit - There is no cholera outbreak in the Eastern Cape, the provincial department of health said on Wednesday.

Spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said the department had been inundated with calls from the media enquiring about the so-called cholera outbreak.

"There are no cholera cases in the Eastern Cape and we do not know where this information is coming from.

"On December 24, about five people were rushed to Mlamli hospital and treated for food poisoning after having fed on contaminated meat," he said in a statement.

According to the department, no patients were being treated in any of the hospitals in Sturkspruit and reports that more than 100 people were being treated for diarrhoea in hospitals around Sturkspruit were incorrect.

"We urge the community of Sturkspruit to remain calm as there is no need for panic and appeal to those who continue to spread these unsubstantiated rumours to stop.

"If there was an outbreak the department would have been the first to raise the alarm, and would have dispatched outbreak response teams to the areas affected and raised awareness," said Kupelo.

- SAPA