Cholera kills Diepsloot resident

A 19-year-old man died of cholera at the Helen Joseph Hospital, the Gauteng health department said on Tuesday.

Spokesperson Phumelele Kaunda said the man, living in Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg, died on February 16.

His death has brought Gauteng’s cholera death toll since November last year to four.

“The man is a Zimbabwean national who confirmed that he last visited his home country recently in December,” she said.

She said to date no source of cholera has been found in Gauteng.

“Most of the suspected cases are people who have travel history to either Zimbabwe or Musina.

Those who do not have such history have been found to have been in contact with persons who have travelled to these areas.”

The Gauteng health department has rolled out educational programmes aimed at preventing people from being infected.

Information offered included details about personal hygiene and cholera symptoms. In addition health officials tested water in rivers and dams around the province to ensure it was safe, she said.—Sapa