THE country has recorded 46 suspected cholera cases and five laboratory-confirmed cases between 1 January and 1 February 2024.
Three of these cases, of a 27 year-old man, a 38-year-old woman and a 43-year-old, were from the neighbouring country of Zimbabwe which is currently battling the outbreak of this diarrheal disease.
The other two, an 11 years-old and a 13-year-old, are siblings with no travel history to cholera outbreak areas, which suggests that the risk of contact with a known cholera case.
This was confirmed by the Minister of health Dr Joe Phaahla on Monday, 5 February.
According to Phaahla, four of these cases were detected in Limpopo hospitals including Musina and Helene Frans Hospital and the other one was confirmed in Helen Joseph hospital in Gauteng.
The third and fourth cases were from Blouberg Local Municipality in Limpopo and are epidemiologically linked. He said a cluster of 24 cases were also identified during outbreak response activities at a primary and high school in the same municipal area on 31 January 2024, adding that test results are still pending.
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Phaahla said they have health entities dealing with this issue and to enforce measures of control.
"The local outbreak response teams have been activated to strengthen the investigation to conduct active case finding and contact tracing to determine the source of infection where there is no travel history, and to institute control measures to avert further local transmission.
"All public and private health facilities are urged to remain vigilant due to potential high risk of cholera transmission," he said.
While the number may be alarming, Phaahle said there is no need to panic.
"There is no need for public to panic. However, the Department calls for more vigilance amongst members of the community, exercise caution and maintain proper personal hygiene practices especially amongst children at home and at schools," he said
In the meantime he said the country remains on high alert for possible surge in cases at community level.
