Nelspruit - Mpumalanga has recorded its first cholera death, according to the provincial Department of Health on Wednesday.
According to a statement issued by the department, a woman from the Pankop informal settlement in the Dr JS Moroka Local Municipality died after apparently contracting cholera during a trip to Zimbabwe during December.
She was the first reported cholera case in the province.
"It is suspected that a couple arrived after a visit to Zimbabwe on 31 December 2008. On 2 January, they both started vomiting, followed by painless watery diarrhoea," said the department.
The couple are reported to have gone to Pankop Clinic on 4 January, where they were both transferred to Mmametlhake Hospital. However, the female patient died the following day after being admitted at the hospital.
The surviving male patient was discharged on 7 January.
Tests by the National Health Laboratory (NHLS) on 9 January confirmed that the woman had cholera. The result for the male patient was negative, according to the statement.
The department has put all health facilities on high alert, especially in the Dr JS Moroka Local Municipality.
Officials have been requested to conduct a daily assessment of all diarrhoea cases which are to be forwarded to Head Office on a daily basis for thorough monitoring. All facilities have also been instructed to do stool sampling or rectal swabs for every diarrhoea case that fits the case definition of cholera.
Health Promotion Teams in have been deployed in the area to promote cholera and diarrhoea prevention methods. They also provide information on home purification methods, sugar/salt solutions, good hygiene practices, the proper use of toilets and hand washing practices utilizing stickers and training flipcharts.
The Environmental Health Unit with assistance from Department of Water Affairs and Forestry team has been instructed to do water samples on a regular basis.
The Provincial Surveillance task team has been set up to closely monitor the situation and give support when necessary.
