It is not clear what caused a diarrhoea outbreak that affected about 80 people in Barberton, Mpumalanga. Barberton, in the Mpumalanga Lowveld, is considered one of the province’s tourist attraction towns as it has Makhonjwa Mountain, a World Heritage site. 18 people admitted to hospital The department of health has confirmed 18 people were admitted to the hospital after suffering from diarrhoea, while approximately 73 diarrhoea cases were reported.
Mpumalanga department of health director for the Communicable Diseases Control Programme Mandla Zwane said investigations were under way to reveal what caused the problem. “For now we are not sure what might be the cause, but we are working with all stakeholders to investigate the matter.” ALSO READ: Gold mine leak ‘poisons’ 185 people in Ivory Coast: officials Zwane said they were waiting for clinical sample results and water samples which could reveal what exactly happened.
He advised residents to always boil water before drinking it and to wash food and hands properly. One life claimed According to the authorities, the outbreak had already claimed the life of a nine-year-old baby who was admitted to Barberton Hospital. One of the affected people who spoke on condition of anonymity said the outbreak was serious and he had suffered for three days.
“It was on Wednesday and I had a runny stomach and on Thursday I discovered that many people were also suffering from diarrhoea. ALSO READ: Summer body rush: How weight-loss .