Pretoria – The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) on Sunday said 29 patients out of the 77 that were hospitalised in Hammanskraal with cholera have since recovered and were discharged.
“As of Saturday, there were 77 patients admitted for diarrhoeal disease. It is worth noting that 29 patients have since recovered and were discharged,” said the GDoH.
The number of patients that have been seen at the Jubilee District Hospital since Monday, 15 May 2023, is sitting at 229.
“This number includes 23 patients who have been transferred to other Tshwane-based hospitals,” the GDoH said.
“In the past few days, less patients have presented at health facilities with symptoms of diarrhoeal disease.
“The number of laboratory-confirmed cases of cholera seen at Jubilee is standing at 48.
“To date, 23 people have unfortunately passed on from the disease outbreak.”
The GDoH said as part of efforts to manage the diarrhoeal disease, the provincial government has set up a field hospital in Kanana.
“The six temporary tents have been set up to immediately attend to people presenting with symptoms of dehydration, as vomiting and diarrhoea eliminates water from the body,” the GDoH said.
“In this temporary hospital, patients are either given oral hydration or Intravenous Hydration on the spot, and the most critical patients are immediately taken to hospitals in Tshwane for further management and admission.”
The GDoH said it continues to urge people to ensure proper hand hygiene which includes thorough washing of hands with water and soap or alcohol-based sanitiser before handling food and after using the toilet.
“The public is advised to report to their nearest health facilities when they present with diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and dehydration symptoms, so they can receive medical treatment,” said the GDoH.
“It is also critical that the public avoid consuming known or suspected contaminated food and water.”
Meanwhile, one person has died of cholera from the Free State, bringing the total number of deaths in the country since the latest outbreak to 24.