I received a call this morning informing me of 10 cholera outbreaks as a result of people in Vanderbijl and Veereniging drinking infected tap water. I've also heard reports that the cholera scare in SA is a hoax. So please exercvise your own discretion and be discerning about unsubstantiated rumors.
The story below (from Reuters) also turns out to be a false alarm.
The official cholera toll in SA is 73 dead (1979 in Zim) , and today The Times reports 13 new cases in Limpopo, the Sowetan: 'Cholera is spreading' (Cholera has been found in the Tubatse River.
Given the news over the poor state of water treatment in SA (covered extensively in 50/50.
Conditions are favorable for the spread of Cholera right now - high temperatures, intermittent rain and obviously large areas in neighboring Zimbabwe where the disease is digging in.
* 61 workers sick since Thursday
* Expects confirmation on cause by Saturday morning
JOHANNESBURG, Jan 9 (Reuters) - South African utility Eskom
[ESCJ.UL] shut down the construction of its Medupi power station
in the country's Limpopo province after a cholera scare, the
company's spokesman Fani Zulu said on Friday.
Zulu said 61 workers had fallen ill since Thursday,
displaying symptoms similar to those of cholera, and tests were
being done to confirm the cause.
If confirmed as cholera, it would be the first sign that the
disease which has killed more than 1,800 people in neighbouring
Zimbabwe was having an impact on South Africa's industry and
economy. The outbreak started in August last year.
Limpopo, which is adjacent to the Zimbabwean border, has so
far recorded 1,634 cases of cholera in the province since the
outbreak started, SAPA news agency quoted the department of
health as saying. Continued...
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