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Cholera outbreak in Bizana
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Health

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MEDIA RELEASE
 TO ALL MEDIA
 FOR IMMEDIATE USE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
 3 MAY 2001


MEDIA RELEASE ON CHOLERA OUTBREAK IN BIZANA

The Eastern Cape Department of Health would like to confirm that 4 persons were admitted to St. Patricks Hospital with proven cholera. 
These were coming from different communities in the Bizana Local Council (in the OR Tambo District Municipality). These people were seen 
during the period of 23 to 26 April 2001. No new cases were admitted since then.

Despite the widespread reporting of a death as a result of cholera, our current information indicates that there was no fatality. The only 
patient who died was initially treated for unrelated diarrhoeal causes and recovered only to die due to other chest condition. Even his 
specimen was negative for cholera bacterium. Three communities are currently affected and these are Highland View in Bizana Town (1) 
Dayimane village (2) and KwaMampisi location (1).

The Department of Health has established a Joint Operation Command (JOC) in Bizana with representatives from Department of Water Affairs 
and Forestry (DWAF), OR Tambo District Municipality, ECDOH, Bizana Local Council and NGOs. The JOC will be responsible for daily 
management of this operation and will be assisted by teams in these areas; health promotion, logistics, technical, investigative and 
clinical. The Department immediate objectives are to control and contain the outbreak and the intermediate objectives will be spring 
protection and sanitation and the sustained health promotion. The immediate actions would be-:

* Intensive health promotion and jik supply.
* Assessment of springs for protection.
* Establishment of dehydration centres.
* Mobilisation of resources.

We as a Department of Health will negotiate with the local council strategies to ensure payment for water services without resolving to 
water cuts.

The information at our disposal indicates that we are winning in the containment of the outbreak. We have however committed our time and 
resource to this operation to ensure that this achievement is sustained.

I would like to thank you

Issued by Mahlubandile Mageda
 Media Liaison Officer: Office of the MEC
 Contact No. 040 609 3779
 Cellphone: 082 566 3664

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