Diarrhoea outbreak in Vryheid area is subsiding, KZN health MEC says

The recent outbreak of diarrhoea in the Vryheid area, which led to the admission of 535 people to hospital, was showing signs of subsiding, KwaZulu-Natal health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo said on Thursday.

Dhlomo visited Vryheid hospital on Thursday. He was briefed about drastic improvements following a series of interventions to stem the tide of new infections.

“From March 22 there have been 535 admissions at Vryheid hospital, referred mainly from Bhekuzulu clinic and Mason clinic,” Dhlomo said.

He said these clinics were serving Bhekuzulu location, Lakeside and Vryheid town. “We are happy to announce that there’s been no single death from this diarrhoea outbreak in this area," he said.

Dhlomo said the laboratory results of both stools of the patients and the water samples showed no sign of vibrio cholera, typhoid, or any other known pathogens that cause severe diarrhoea.

Dhlomo said since the interventions that the department had put in place, such as advising communities on how to prepare safe drinking water, it had been noticing a decreasing number of admissions of patients with abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting.

“On April 3 there were five admissions. Today there’s only been one admission,” Dhlomo said on Thursday.

He said the department had advised the community that water must be boiled, even if it came from the tap.

“We are also aware that the municipality has increased the chlorine content at the reservoirs.

“The laboratory will continue to look for any other pathogens that might be causing this irritant diarrhoea.”