Neelam Rahim / neelam@radioislam.co.za

2 min read
7 February 2023 / 11:11 am CAT

Photo: News24

Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, has called for vigilance as the country recorded two laboratory-confirmed cholera cases imported from Malawi. These sisters had travelled together from Johannesburg to Malawi to attend a funeral service and returned by bus on the 30th of January, 2023. Both patients had developed symptoms on their return to Johannesburg.

In conversation with Radio Islam International, the Department’s spokesperson, Foster Mohale, expressed concerns about detecting cholera cases considering the outbreak in Malawi, with almost 36000 thousand cases and just above a 1000 mortality rate.

Mohale advises the public to observe health protocol and hand hygiene to ensure protection at all times.

Signs and symptoms include nausea, vomiting, watery diarrhoea, dehydration, lethargy, or water-electrolyte imbalance.

The health department has urged South Africans not to panic and states that South Africa’s infrastructure is robust against the outbreak of cholera diseases; however, it urges vigilance.

“In South Africa it is rare that we will develop the outbreak of diseases like cholera,” he added.

Listen to the interview with Presenter Moulana Junaid Kharsany and the Department’s spokesperson, Foster Mohale, on Radio Islam’s podcast.