OWN CORRESPONDENT, Durban | Wednesday
THE South African National Defence Force has been called in to help cope with an antibiotic-resistant outbreak of cholera in KwaZulu-Natal that has killed 13 people and infected more than 1_ 000 others.
Authorities say the disease appears to be spreading after new cases were reported in Eshowe last week. The first cases of the disease were discovered last month in rural communities near Empangeni.
“The problem is that people here are mainly dependent on river water,” said Professor Ronnie Green-Thompson, head of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health.
The bacteria responsible for the latest outbreak is resistant to three types of antibiotics that are normally used to treat the disease. More expensive medicines will now be needed to fight the outbreak.
“This is the worst outbreak in many years and requires positive action,” said Dr. Stephen Toovey, of Medinfo, who warned that the illness could break out again if the necessary infrastructure was lacking.
Cholera thrives on defective infrastructure and the only way to eradicate the illness is to ensure that people have access to clean water and proper sanitation.
Meanwhile, Toovey said, “certain people are carriers and do not get ill themselves. This means they can cause the illness to end up in the system again.”
The army and health department are providing water to six areas at Eshowe and Empangeni which have been affected by the outbreak.
Green-Thompson said there was no reason to panic, but that much work still lay ahead in protecting patients from dehydration as a result of diarrhoea. Severe diarrhoea can be fatal to older people and children.