Mpumalanga confirmed its first cholera case on Wednesday, 31 May. The 73-year-old woman died on Tuesday.
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FIRST CONFIRMED CHOLERA PATIENT IN MPUMALANGA DIES
The Mpumalanga Department of Health said the patient lived in Phaphamang Section, Phake, in Dr JS Moroka. She was admitted to the Mmametlhake Hospital, which is near to Hammanskraal, on 26 May, presenting with diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting.
“She was a known patient on hypertension treatment. A Cholera sample was taken and forwarded to the laboratory for investigation. The interim result showed cholera positive,” said the department.
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The woman died in hospital on 30 May. The final test results confirmed she was infected with cholera.
The latest death means at least 25 people have died of the disease – 23 in Hammanskraal, Tshwane, which is the current epicentre, and another in the Free State.
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The Department of Health has deployed an Outbreak Response Team in Dr JS Moroka to:
• Investigating possible sources of infection and contact tracing
• Conduct intensive community awareness campaigns
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