Two recovering from meningitis
2003-08-03 18:15
Johannesburg - Two people suffering from meningitis - one in the Eastern Cape and the other in Mpumalanga - are showing signs of improvement.
Mpumalanga health spokesperson Dumisani Mlangeni said it was expected that Susan Nel, 67, who was being treated at a Witbank hospital would be discharged soon.
"She is recovering very well and she will probably be released in the next few days," he said.
An 18-year-old matric pupil, Kolie Olivier, being treated in a Uitenhage clinic, was reportedly in a serious, but stable condition, said Eastern Cape health spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo.
A disaster management team had been set up to ensure that there was no outbreak of meningitis in the area. More than 100 pupils living in the hostel of Brandwag High School where Olivier was bordering had being treated as a precautionary measure.
Three people recently died of meningococcal meningitis in Potchefstroom in the North West.
Another case was reported in Schweizer Reneke and according to the SABC one in Kathu.
Meningococcal meningitis, a highly infectious disease, is a form of acute bacterial meningitis found all over the world.
The symptoms include a stiff neck, severe headaches and a high fever.
In South Africa there are sporadic cases throughout the year and the current increase is a seasonal one.
- SAPA