Issued by: Department of Health
DATE: 21 November 1997
With the spread southwards in Africa of cholera in recent months, the possibility of an outbreak of cholera in South Africa does exist if precautionary measures are not taken, the Department of Health has warned.
International experience has shown that travel and trade restrictions between countries does not prevent the spread of cholera. This fact has been confirmed by the World Health Organisation. As a result, no special measures are being implemented at ports of entry into South Africa since it is impossible to detect or prevent cholera infected people from entering the country. Instead, the emphasis is placed on rapid detection and containment of the disease.
The Department of Health is leaving nothing to chance. To prevent a possible outbreak, provincial health facilities throughout the country have been placed on alert and the necessary guidelines for managing a potential cholera outbreak have been widely distributed. Bacteriological surveillance is being carried out in sewers of the major cities to detect the cholera bacteria and laboratory facilities are prepared for confirming clinical diagnosis of the disease.
Public awareness campaigns have also been stepped up in communities most at risk such as rural areas and informal settlements where safe water is not available.
Any person with severe diarrhoea with water stools resulting in rapid loss of body fluids should see medical assistance immediately.
The last time South Africa experienced a cholera epidemic was between 1980 - 1985 with 25 110 cases and 346 deaths reported. This epidemic occurred along the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal and mostly in rural areas. The most recent case was earlier this year when a patient who had been to Mozambique and fell ill in Johannesburg was successfully treated without the disease spreading.