Pretoria - A 26-year-old Mamelodi man is on the run after being provisionally diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis, said the Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development.
Dace Danneth, 26, was provisionally diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis on 12 December at the Mamelodi Hospital in Pretoria. The department is calling on the public to help find him after he absconded after being diagnosed.
According to the department, the hospital has contacted his brother Bongani to explain to him the seriousness of the illness after which Bongani confirmed that Danneth was at home and would return to the hospital.
Danneth did not return to the hospital and the contact number has since been off, said the department's spokesperson Simon Zwane on Wednesday.
The communicable disease is transmitted from person to person through droplets of respiratory or throat secretion and through close or prolonged contact like kissing, sneezing and coughing.
Headache, fever, vomiting, reduced consciousness and rashes on the body are signs of meningitis. Its spread through drops of fluids from the mouth, throat or nose of someone who has the illness.
The hospital, together with the police have visited the address provided on the admission card (Phomolong Ext6, Mamelodi East) but did not find Danneth.
The department has called on people to prevent the disease by avoiding contact with any person who is suspected of having meningitis as well as washing their hands after touching the affected person.
People experiencing meningitis like symptoms are urged to visit a health facility for examination.
Attempts to find the patient are continuing, said Zwane.
