GEORGE NEWS - Rumours of a typhoid fever outbreak in Thembalethu were denied by the Western Cape Department of Health.
According to district health spokesperson Nadia Ferreira, 20 cases of typhoid were recorded between August 2020 and September 2021 and of these, 13 cases, including one death, were reported in the George region.
"This is not regarded as an outbreak since no contact could be established between individual cases," she said.
It is possible to get typhoid fever through close contact with an infected person.
The Garden Route Dam Action Group (Gardag) expressed concern over sewage pollution of the city's urban rivers, especially the Meul River, which could lead to infection among the local community.
Children were recently noticed swimming in the river and standing at the river's edge with a bucket, according to Gardag spokesperson Pauline Lourens. George Municipality said the causes of diseases such as typhoid are often related to illegal dumping and illegal occupation of land not serviced by municipal infrastructure.
Clearing of illegal dumping hotspots continues as resources and finances permit. The municipality also continues with environmental awareness and education to inform communities of the dangers of illegal dumping, littering and blocked drains.
The municipality appeals to the community to "live responsibly to ensure the overall health and safety of all citizens".
Ferreira said typhoid is endemic to South Africa and the risk is higher in populations that lack access to safe water and adequate sanitation. "Poor communities and vulnerable groups, including children, are at higher risk. Most commonly, typhoid case patients are between four and 27 years."
Typhoid fever is a life-threatening infection caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi. It is usually spread through contaminated food or water. Salmonella typhi lives only in humans. Symptoms include prolonged high fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhoea.
"Typhoid fever is also climate related as the germs spread easier during the summer period," said Ferreira. "Access to safe water and adequate sanitation, hygiene among food handlers and typhoid vaccination are all effective in preventing typhoid fever."
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