Cholera Outbreak in South Africa: Causes, Consequences and Responses

South Africa is facing a deadly cholera outbreak that has claimed at least 29 lives and infected hundreds of people in the past few weeks. The outbreak has mainly affected the Hammanskraal township outside Pretoria, where poor sanitation and water quality have been blamed for the spread of the disease. Cholera is a water-borne bacterial infection that causes severe diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration. It can be fatal within hours if left untreated.

Possible Causes

The exact source of the cholera outbreak in South Africa is yet to be confirmed, but several factors have been identified as possible contributors. According to the City of Tshwane Municipality, which oversees Pretoria and surrounding areas, a water plant in Pretoria that is responsible for waste water management for large parts of Hammanskraal is in need of urgent upgrades and has not been functioning properly for years. The plant has been out of capacity since 2005 and requires about $130 million for repairs.

Another possible cause is the electricity crisis that has plagued South Africa for months, leading to frequent power cuts and disruptions to water supply and treatment systems. The lack of reliable electricity has also affected health facilities and refrigeration of vaccines and medicines.

Furthermore, the cholera outbreak in South Africa may be linked to regional outbreaks in neighbouring countries such as Zimbabwe and Malawi, where thousands of people have been infected and hundreds have died since 2022 . The movement of people and goods across borders may have facilitated the transmission of the disease.

Prevalence

The cholera outbreak in South Africa has mainly affected the Hammanskraal township, where 19 cases and 10 deaths have been reported as of June 9, 2023. However, other provinces such as Limpopo and Free State have also reported cases of cholera, raising fears of a wider spread of the disease. The provincial department of health in Gauteng has recorded 29 laboratory-confirmed cases and 67 hospitalizations for gastrointestinal infections.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that cholera cases in Africa are rising exponentially amid a global surge of the disease. At least 12 African countries have reported cholera outbreaks this year, with more than 36,000 cases and 1,000 deaths in Malawi alone.

Response

The South African government has admitted its failure in preventing the cholera outbreak and has vowed to take urgent measures to contain it. President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Hammanskraal on June 9 and apologized to the residents for the poor service delivery and infrastructure that contributed to the outbreak. He also announced that a team of experts from the national department of health and the WHO would be deployed to assist the local authorities in addressing the situation.

The provincial department of health in Gauteng has also intensified its response by conducting active case finding, contact tracing, surveillance, water quality testing, health education and distribution of hygiene kits. The department has urged the public to take extra precautionary measures and maintain proper hand hygiene to prevent possible infection.

In addition, several humanitarian organizations have stepped in to provide assistance to the affected communities. The NGO Gift of the Givers has distributed more than 3,200 sealed water bottles to the local hospital and clinics where patients are being treated. The Red Cross Society has also deployed volunteers and staff to provide water, sanitation and hygiene services, as well as psychosocial support.

Effects

The cholera outbreak in South Africa has had devastating effects on the health and well-being of the affected people. Many have lost their lives or their loved ones to the disease. Others have suffered from severe dehydration, malnutrition and complications such as kidney failure or septic shock. The outbreak has also overwhelmed the already strained health system, which is struggling to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic and other diseases.

The outbreak has also exposed the deep-rooted social and economic inequalities that plague South Africa. The poor and marginalized communities that lack access to basic services such as clean water, sanitation, electricity and health care are more vulnerable to cholera and other diseases. The outbreak has also highlighted the need for improved governance and accountability at all levels of government to ensure effective service delivery and infrastructure maintenance.

The cholera outbreak in South Africa is a reminder that no one should die from a preventable and treatable disease in the 21st century. It is a call for action to address the root causes of the disease and to ensure that everyone has the right to health and dignity.