The Free State Department of Health has intensified its interventions to curb the widespread outbreak of diarrhoea and cholera in the province. This followed positive cases in the Fezile Dabi district, in the towns of Vredefort and Parys.
Mondli Mvambi, spokesperson of the department, said the department responded promptly, activating a multidisciplinary outbreak response team after the confirmation of six cases during the course of last week. The team includes the local and district municipality, and is supported by World Health Organisation (WHO) and the National Institute on Communicable Diseases (NICD).
According to Mvambi, the teams have been in the district since 8 May after the communicable disease district coordinator in the Fezile Dabi district was notified of a rapid increase of diarrhoea cases in the Ngwathe Local Municipality area.
“The team’s first laboratory case was confirmed on Wednesday (17/05), and about 76 people were seen at various clinics and hospitals in the district in question with diarrhoeal infections. Of these, six confirmed positive for cholera and were treated at the Parys Hospital and Boitumelo Hospital in Kroonstad,” said Mvambi.
He said at a meeting held yesterday – Sunday – it was resolved that the multidisciplinary teams working in the affected towns continued monitoring the quality of water and all water sources supplying water to the community. “Environmental risk assessments are also ongoing,” said Mvambi.
The provincial MEC of Health, Mathabo Leeto, has expressed appreciation for the prompt reaction by the outbreak response team’s intervention measures and has encouraged all stakeholders in the area to work together in the effort to curb any spread and recurrence of diarrhoea and cholera infections.
“We have to work together consistently to curb any potential spread of infections and also make sure that the identified cases get treated immediately,” said Leeto.
