About 150 pupils were reportedly affected by the bilharzia outbreak that engulfed a school in Tzaneen, Limpopo. Pupils from Malwandla Primary School in Petanenge informal settlement near Nkowankowa received medical attention after they displayed bilharzia-related symptoms. Bilharzia spread through contaminated water Bilharzia is a disease caused by parasitic flatworms and affects the urinary tract and the intestines.
Its symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhoea, bloody stools or urine mixed with blood. The disease spreads through contaminated water, which means using such unfiltered water can lead to contracting the disease. Malwandla school governing body chair Amanda Mondlane has confirmed that the school recorded 142 bilharzia cases.
“On 7 August, I received a call from the curriculum head informing me that 67 children tested positive for bilharzia,” she said. “Then on the 12th, we wanted to take them to the local clinics but we did not have transport. “We approached the Elizabeth Home Foundation and the local taxi association for transport.
“The foundation escalated the matter to the department of health’s local offices which sent three mobile clinics. “About 142 pupils tested positive but they have not yet started taking treatment. In the school, they are using a borehole for drinking water and they also use pit toilets.
” Mondlane said the water was taken for sampling to determine the exact cause of the outbreak. A parent, who asked to remain anonymous.