The country is on high cholera alert again after two cases were confirmed in Limpopo. Community members have raised concerns over the water quality and how the outbreak would affecting their health.
Both cases confirmed to be imported from Zimbabwe. The first case was detected in Musina and the second at Hellen Franz Hospital after the patient presented symptoms of abdominal cramps, watery diarrhoea, and vomiting.
Community is concerned and scared
Elias Nare from Musina in Limpopo highlights his worries regarding the recent cholera cases and has since avoided using tap water for drinking.
“The recent cholera outbreak worries us, and everyone around us is being careful. Luckily, no one around me has had cholera symptoms, but we are trying to stay safe by washing hands a lot and ensuring that the water we use is clean.”
Also from Musina in Limpopo, Ntokozo Banda says she was not aware of the ongoing outbreak but stays away from tap water because it is at most times not suitable for consumption.
“Although it came from elsewhere, sometimes the water here is not suitable for drinking because it comes out dirty. To keep safe, and now during this outbreak, I’m keeping away even more from tap water and only drinking purified water.”
Nearly 50 people died in South Africa in 2023 due to the outbreak of cholera, with most of the deaths concentrated in the Hammanskraal area in Gauteng.
The deputy minister of health Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, urges members of the public to be vigilant and maintain personal hygiene.
In a statement, the department noted that the country remains on high alert for possible imported cholera cases from neighbouring Zimbabwe, which is currently battling the outbreak of the disease and has so far claimed over 200 lives.
“All people who experience cholera-like symptoms (stomach cramps, diarrhoea, and dehydration and vomiting), with or without travel history to cholera-endemic countries and areas, are also urged to present themselves to the nearest health facilities without delays. Never drink water from unsafe sources such as rivers, dams, or streams unless boiled or disinfected first,” reads the statement.
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How to make water safe
Dr Lwazi Ndlwana, a water scientist from Johannesburg who works on membrane nanotechnologies for water treatment, shares a few ways to treat water at home to make it safe for consumption:
- Firstly, disinfection, where boiling the water is used to kill viruses and parasites in the water.
- Secondly, filtration modules are also available on the market and can be fitted into household taps. Some of these may contain activated charcoal, ceramic membranes, or polymeric (plastic) membranes. The membranes are responsible for separating hazardous compounds and microbes, producing safe drinking water.
- Activated carbon can also be purchased at hardware shops and can be added directly to a bucket containing the contaminated water to absorb the unwanted contaminants, making the water safe to consume.
- One can also use bleaching methods to disinfect the water; the instructions on the product label need to be followed to ensure you use the right amount of disinfectant and let the water sit for the recommended amount of time.
Educate yourself
Cholera is a bacterial disease causing severe diarrhoea and dehydration, and it is usually spread through contaminated water. A person may get cholera by drinking water or eating food contaminated with the cholera bacterium; thus, the disease can spread rapidly in areas with inadequate treatment of sewage and drinking water.
According to the department of health, there is a cholera vaccine mostly given to vulnerable populations in endemic countries and outbreak situations, but it is currently not widely available or used in South Africa.
So in an outbreak, they advise that the best control measures are the early detection of cases and treatment of patients, coupled with health education.
Other ways include:
- Limiting contact with people in the household with known diarrhoeal disease, isolating, and using their own toilet if possible. Limit contact with other people.
- Practicing good hand hygiene, especially after using the toilet and when preparing food.
- Boiling and treating water with household bleach.
- Hand washing is essential for all healthcare workers as well as the community.
ALSO READ: Here’s how to make tap water safe for drinking
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