The Department of Health is urging the public to be vigilant and take extreme precautions, maintaining good hygiene. This alert from the department comes following a cholera outbreak, confirmed through laboratory tests.

A statement was issued, stating six people in gauteng in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria, have been confirmed dead as a result of gastrointestinal symptoms, in the past few days.  “Diarrhoeal disease is a common and often highly infectious condition that affects the stomach and intestines. It is a leading cause of child mortality and morbidity in the world and mostly spreads by contact with an infected person or through contaminated food and drinking water sources,” the department said.

The Department of Health Spokesperson, Foster Mohale, says people are expected to fall sick 12 to 48 hours after exposure. “Some common symptoms include diarrhoea, cramps, nausea, vomiting and low-grade fever.”