Limpopo cholera cases increase

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - Dec 08 2008 14:09

The number of cholera cases continued to increase in Limpopo over the weekend, the provincial health department said on Monday.

Spokesperson Phuti Seloba said the number of cases reported in the province since mid-November now stood at 633. On Friday, this number was 515.

Eight people have died of the illness in the province in the same time period.

Seloba said there were currently 57 people in hospital.

He said the number of people crossing the border to seek treatment continued to fluctuate, making it difficult to estimate how many more people might come into the country to seek treatment.

"We are not in charge. The cholera is not in South Africa. The breakout is in Zimbabwe. We don't know how many may decide to come," said Seloba.

"We believe we are coping. It's a problem of Zimbabwean authorities. Cholera is a waterborne disease. People are drinking water that is not treated."

He said once Zimbabwe implemented the management of water services "we don't anticipate any problems".

On Monday, national Health Department spokesperson Fidel Hadebe said information about the impact of the cholera outbreak across the country was being collated.

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The department planned to hold a media briefing about the situation on Tuesday in Musina.

Also on Monday, a South African and Southern African Development Community (SADC) delegation was expected to depart for Zimbabwe.

The delegation was expected to assess the situation, determine the level of assistance required and consult various representatives, including the World Health Organisation.

A report back was expected to be held on Thursday when health and water affairs ministers from the SADC troika -- South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia -- would meet in Johannesburg.

Last week, Zimbabwe government and United Nations figures showed that more than 560 deaths and 12 500 cases of cholera had been recorded in Zimbabwe since August. -- Sapa

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