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Two cases of cholera have been reported in South Africa after two sisters travelled together from Johannesburg to Malawi to attend a funeral service.
According to the department of health, the two sisters returned by bus last Monday and had developed symptoms on their return to Johannesburg.
The Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla has called for vigilance as the country records two laboratory-confirmed cases of cholera imported from Malawi.
He said one patient presented to a local clinic and was then admitted to hospital.
Phaahla said:
He said a close contact (household family member) of one of the patients was admitted to hospital on February 4 with diarrhoea and dehydration, and is considered a possible case. Phaahla said laboratory test results were pending and a follow-up of close contacts was ongoing.
“Although, cholera is often predictable and preventable, people are urged to ensure proper hand-hygiene which includes thorough washing of hands with water and soap before and after using the bathroom/toilet and preparing or eating food. The use of only safe or disinfected water for preparing food, beverages and ice is recommended to prevent possible cholera transmission include. Safe disposal of human excrement and nappies is recommended,” Phaahla said.
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He said the department was working closely with the affected province, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases and World Health Organization to closely monitor the situation.
Phaahla said South Africa was not endemic for cholera, and the last outbreak was in 2008/9 with about 12 000 cases. That resulted from an outbreak in Zimbabwe which led to surge of imported cases and subsequent local transmission in Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces through contaminated water.
“Cholera is an acute enteric infection caused by the bacteria Vibrio cholerae, and the outbreaks usually occur in settings with inadequate sanitation and insufficient access to safe drinking water. Cholera typically causes acute watery diarrhoea and can affect people of all ages,” Phaahla said.
He said it mainly spreads through contaminated/polluted water and that people could become infected directly through drinking contaminated water, or indirectly through eating contaminated food.
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“The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but can sometimes be severe and life-threatening. Symptoms range from mild to severe and watery diarrhoea and dehydration,” he said.
Phaahla said the incubation period from when the person ingests cholera-contaminated water/food to when they first become ill ranges from few hours to five days, usually two to three days and people infected with cholera will experience mild illness or not feel ill.
“However at this moment the World Health Organization does not recommend any travel or trade restrictions on countries based on current available information in line with the international health regulations. The port health officials at the ports of entry (especially land and air) will remain on alert for travelers arriving from countries experiencing cholera outbreak,” Phaahla said.
