The Jukskei River (Photo: GULSHAN KHAN/AFP)
The Department of Health has confirmed that four new cholera cases have been reported in Gauteng.
This brings the number of positive cases to ten, with one death.
According to Foster Mohale, spokesperson for the department, all the new cases are individuals who have been baptized in rivers in the province over the last few weeks.
A couple from Diepsloot were admitted to the Helen Joseph Hospital on 21 March with acute diarrhea and severe dehydration. They were baptized together with six other people in the Jukskei River on 18 March and a few days later began to fall ill.
A 50-year-old woman, the pastor who baptized the couple in the Jukskei River, also tested positive.
A ten-year-old girl from Katlehong was admitted to Mpilweni Hospital with the same symptoms on 19 March. Her mother was admitted to another hospital a few days before and treated for various health conditions. She died in the hospital. It was not initially suspected that she might have died of cholera and no stool samples were taken for analysis.
It was established that the girl and her mother were baptized a week earlier together with other church members in the Kli River.
All four patients are recovering at home and are in a stable condition, said Mohale.
Samples from the Jukskei River and the Kli River will be taken for analysis to determine if the water is indeed contaminated with cholera, and the department will announce the results as soon as they are available.
A response team from the department is meanwhile continuing with contact tracing in the affected communities.
In the meantime, the residents are requested not to drink or use untreated water from flowing rivers and dams to prepare food. Those experiencing symptoms similar to those of cholera are urged to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
