The cholera outbreak has once again claimed a life this time, in Mpumalanga. This is the first death to be recorded in the province since the outbreak. The number of cholera deaths is now sitting at 25 with one person from the Free State, 23 in Hammanskraal, and the last one being a gogo from Mpumalanga. 

VICTIM HAD SYMPTOMS

According to the Mpumalanga Department of Health spokesperson Mandla Zwane, the 73-year-old woman from Phake village was admitted to the Mmametlhake Hospital on May 26. He said her symptoms included nausea and diarrhea. "She was a known patient on hypertension treatment. A sample was taken and forwarded to the laboratory for analysis. The result confirmed the patient was cholera positive," said Zwane. He added that the gogo succumbed to the illness yesterday.

LOOKING EVERYWHERE 

Health Minister Joe Phaahla said that the source of the disease would be subject to tests by various government departments; however, for now, it is not known. "At this stage, we are looking everywhere because there is still no certainty. We are also looking at if it could be transmitted by traveling. Other issues are about the hygiene of water and what one can do to decontaminate any suspicious water, so we will be teaching communities about that. It is working, as numbers are going down very drastically," the minister said.