Still unclear what could be the source of recent Typhoid fever outbreak

It is still unclear what could be the source of a recent Typhoid fever outbreak that has been reported in the Western Cape and North West provinces.

This after authorities reported that there was no trace of typhoid causing bacteria detected in municipal waters.

Tshwane Metro, which has recorded nine positive enteric fever cases, says it expects the numbers to rise.

Nine cases of Typhoid fever have been recorded in Tshwane in the past three months.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases declared an outbreak in North West and Western Cape provinces following a spike in infections.

Typhoid Fever | Department of Water and Sanitation’s Sputnik Ratau provides more information:

Tshwane Metro Spokesperson Sipho Stuurman says: “We have sent a number of samples and we are waiting for the outcome, but we do expect that cases will increase, but we also maintain that there’s no need for panic, Typhoid fever is curable. People with symptoms must simply go to their nearest clinic and present themselves.”

Typhoid fever-causing bacteria is found in contaminated water, food and is also transferable from one person to another.

Residents expressed different feelings about the prospect of a Typhoid outbreak in Tshwane.

“Social media is saying that if the water is white then it is contaminated, we are really scared of getting this disease. I think government must do something to protect us because they use water even in hospitals.”

Water Utility Rand Water issued a statement saying their water treatment processes are effective enough to inactivate harmful bacteria.

Tshwane Metro also emphasised that the water running through their taps is not contaminated.

“It’s untrue that our municipal water or the water running in the taps in Tshwane are contaminated, that is simply not true, so we would like to just dispel that myth and urge residents to watch out for formal communication from the city and not fake news from social media,” adds Stuurman.

Authorities appealed for calm saying typhoid fever is curable.