LIMPOPO has confirmed its first recorded cholera case from a 26-year-old man.
The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) confirmed the case at the Musina Hospital.
The man had gone to the hospital on Friday, 26 May, with extreme diarrhoea, vomiting, and dehydration.
He was then admitted, isolated, and treated while specimens were sent to the NICD for testing.
Limpopo Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba said although the test results came out positive on Tuesday, 30 May, the patient has since improved and is due to be discharged.
Ramathuba said this positive case did not come as a surprise following reports that the Beitbridge district in neighbouring Zimbabwe is one of those districts that have reported outbreaks.
"State of readiness has also been strengthened in Belabela Hospital, bordering Gauteng's Hammanskraal area where several cases have also been reported," said.
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The MEC told Daily Sun that her department is strengthening its outbreak response work through surveillance and conducting health promotions with local stakeholders in the hotspots area, including the Beitbridge border posts.
The department said it has also met the Vhembe District Municipality about regularly conducting water tests as a preventative measure.
"We are calling upon all our communities to remain calm and vigilant by practising basic hygiene, hand washing and drinking safe water," said Ramathuba.
Limpopo Democratic Alliance's spokesman for health Risham Maharaj called on MEC Ramathuba and Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) MEC Bhasikopo Makamu to ensure that they intensify the province's response to prevent a cholera outbreak following the province's first confirmed case.
