SA on red alert over cholera outbreak

The Department of Health fears that the outbreak could spread as scores of Zimbabwean nationals suffering from the waterborne disease continue to illegally enter the country seeking help.

Cholera has claimed more than 290 lives in recent weeks in Zimbabwe, and three people - two Zimbabweans and a local, have died in South Africa during the past week. A Cape Town-based truck driver diagnosed with the disease was being treated at Durban's Addington Hospital, where he remained in isolation. KwaZulu-Natal health authorities said the driver, who arrived in Durban from Zimbabwe last weekend, was responding well to treatment.

By the end of last week, the number of cholera cases had risen to 103 in the border town of Musina in Limpopo where 18 patients had been hospitalised. Government spokesman Themba Maseko said the World Health Organisation and the SADC had been approached to help contain the outbreak.

Maseko said that a strategy would be put in place on an urgent basis to provide assistance to the people of Zimbabwe while providing support to the health authorities in Limpopo to enable them to cope with the situation. Limpopo department of health spokesman Phuti Seloba said additional re-hydration centres had been set up at the Beitbridge border post to screen people coming across to determine if they needed help. Two mobile clinics were also available. The outbreak of cholera has been blamed on Zimbabwe's crumbling healthcare and sewerage systems.

Bongani Mthethwa: The Sunday Times, 23 November 2008