The City of Johannesburg has dispatched Outbreak Response Teams to all regions to help educate the public on how to prevent the spread of Listeria.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi confirmed the outbreak on Tuesday.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases says South Africa is currently experiencing an increase in the number of cases, with 557 cases reported since the January the first this year.
Of the 345 cases reported in Gauteng, 172 are in Johannesburg, with eight per cent resulting in death.
The foodborne illness is not contiguous and is curable.
Johannesburg Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health Mpho Phalatse: “Most of what we are doing is really creating awareness both amongst our health care providers as well as our communities. Our doctors and nurses need to maintain a high index of suspicion when cases might be suspected of listeria and the community needs to be aware of what kinds of food could give you listeria and they need to prevent it and particularly those at risk population groups.”
