Dozens of new cholera cases in Limpopo

Mail and Guardian Online, Jan 09 2009

Sixty-eight new cholera cases have been reported in Limpopo, the Department of Health said on Friday.

Eleven new cases were recorded in Musina and Madimbo, 46 in Dilokong and 11 in Botlokwa since Thursday, department spokesperson Phuti Seloba said.

"Our hot spots at the moment are Botlokwa and Dilokong. At present there were 1 634 cases of cholera in Limpopo that have been recorded since the outbreak," said Seloba.

He said the department expected to treat more cholera patients as Zimbabweans were moving back into South Africa in large numbers.

"Our anticipation is that our neighbours from Zimbabwe are coming back into the country in large numbers, so we will treat more people," Seloba said.

He said campaigning had intensified in terms of focusing more on awareness and embarking on door-to-door campaigns.

"We are reaching out to the general masses and rearranging our resources. In Musina and Madimbo there were 1 016 cases," said Seloba.

Before Christmas, Dilokong had 222 new cholera cases and Botlokwa stood at 248. - Sapa

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