The Free State Department of Health remains on high alert in its efforts to curb the widespread outbreak of diarrhoea and cholera cases in recent weeks throughout the province.
The number of affected persons thus far is nine, with one fatality since the first cases were detected on 8 May in the Fezile Dabi district, in the towns of Vredefort and Parys, which fall under the Nqwathe Local Municipality.
Initially, the department confirmed that there were six cases, whereas roughly 76 people with diarrhoeal infections were reportedly seen at various clinics and hospitals in the district in question.
The provincial MEC of Health, Mathabo Leeto, said Parys, Vredefort and Kroonstad remain an area of concern due to the number of people with diarrhoea still seen at health facilities in the towns in question.
She has encouraged the public to adhere to health measures, namely the washing of hands with soap, alcohol-based sanitizers, or boiling water where possible.
“Should anyone have symptoms of diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach cramps and nausea, we encourage people to go to the nearest health facility,” said Leeto.
The department responded promptly, activating a multidisciplinary outbreak response team after the confirmation of six cases through laboratory testing.
The team includes the local and district municipality, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the National Institute on Communicable Diseases (NICD).
According to the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), tap water in the province remains safe to drink despite a cholera outbreak in the Fezile Dabi district.
Meanwhile, the Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC) Board has expressed grave concerns about the current outbreak of cholera in South Africa, which has claimed lives in Hammanskraal, Gauteng.
“The OHSC board is deeply concerned about the current outbreak of the cholera disease in South Africa, particularly in the provinces of Gauteng, Free State, North West, and Mpumalanga. The OHSC noted with great sadness that the disease claimed the lives of patients at some of the health establishments,” said Ricardo Mahlakanya, spokesperson.
“We are urging the national and provincial health departments to put measures in place across all healthcare establishments in order to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread of the disease.”
He said the regulator of health services would continue to monitor the situation, ensuring that the quality and safety of users of health services are not compromised in health establishments.
We are urging the national and provincial health departments to put measures in place across all healthcare establishments.
– Ricardo Mahlakanya
