First Cholera case confirmed in Windhoek
The Ministry of Health and Social Services on Wednesday confirmed the first case of cholera in Windhoek.
According to the ministry, a 10-year-old schoolboy from Oshitenda Location was admitted to a hospital on 25 January after falling sick at school with diarrhea (rice watery stools), vomiting and dehydration.
The patient was admitted at Windhoek Central Hospital that same day and according to further reports two other boys in his class were also vomiting and had diarrhea.
Upon investigation, it was revealed that the two boys including the patient shared a sausage from home and started vomiting and having diarrhea few hours later and all were taken to hospitals by their parents suspecting food poisoning.
On 29 January the results of the 10 year old came back positive with vibrio cholerae isolated and according to the ministry it should be noted that one confirmed case of cholera constitutes an outbreak.
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry, Petronella Masabane, in a statement said that the rapid response team that included the Regional MIS, District Surveillance Officer, two Environmental Health practitioners and one FELTLEP residence visited the house of the confirmed case to carry out an investigation.
“The 10 year old boy is discharged and well and no other case has been reported so far and so far health education has been given to the affected household, while further investigation is ongoing” she added.
She said that the other cases confirmed at the school that presented with the same symptoms are also being monitored and surveillance has been strengthened and facilities have been alerted to be on the look out for cholera cases.
Meanwhile, the Ministry Ministry said health education has been given to the affected household, while further investigation is ongoing. The other cases at school that presented with the same symptoms are also being monitored and surveillance has been strengthened, while health workers at facilities have been alerted to be on the lookout for cholera cases.
Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by Vibrio Cholerae sero-groups 01 or 0139. It is transmitted oro-faecally, that is through eating or drinking contaminated food or water and is characterized by profuse watery diarrhea with or without vomiting.
