Cholera kills illegal miners
2008-06-08 17:02
Johannesburg - Two people have died of cholera and eight others have been diagnosed with the disease in Barberton, the Mpumalanga health department said on Sunday.
Spokesperson Mpho Gabashane said the victims of the cholera outbreak were all illegal miners.
"They go underground for two to three weeks and drink unsafe water. They do not have adequate ablution and we suspect this is how they contracted cholera," he said.
Health MEC Fish Mahlalela visited Barberton on Sunday and was briefed about the situation.
The health department has deployed a communicable disease control unit in the area to deal with the outbreak.
The department had carried out " necessary investigations" with the community to ensure the outbreak was contained, Gabashane said.
- SAPA