Health officials have issued a public health alert for the City of Tshwane, confirming a total of 48 laboratory-confirmed cases of typhoid fever since the beginning of the year.
The latest figures, provided by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), have prompted a coordinated response from health authorities. The majority of the cases are concentrated in two specific clusters: Bronkhorstspruit and Hammanskraal.
Amid public concern, the Ministry of Water and Sanitation has moved to address fears regarding the city’s infrastructure, categorically stating that the outbreak is not linked to Tshwane’s municipal water supply. The disease, which is spread through the ingestion of contaminated food or water, is instead being investigated as a possible result of a “persistent or point source infection” within the affected communities.
National Department of Health Spokesperson Foster Mohale provided an update on the situation, confirming the NICD’s figures. He clarified that the 48 cases were recorded from January to the present, averaging “about one or two cases every two weeks.”
Mohale elaborated on the source of the outbreak, stating that while the city’s water treatment plants have been ruled out as a source of contamination, the investigation is looking elsewhere.
“We cannot rule out the possibility of imported cases, meaning that the source might be coming from somewhere else,” Mohale said. He further explained that the department is widening its net to investigate other possible sources, including water collected from dams and rivers, as well as issues related to food handling and sanitation.
When pressed on how the water supply was ruled out, Mohale cited preliminary findings from the Department of Water and Sanitation. “We have to trust those who are responsible for investigations. If they say the preliminary investigations don’t suggest any contamination of water plant, we cannot counter them,” he stated.
To contain the spread, the Gauteng Health Department is intensifying public awareness and several key public health activities. Mohale outlined the department’s containment strategy, which includes:
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Case Finding: Identifying and interviewing those who tested positive to collect data on travel history.
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Contact Tracing: Notifying and screening individuals who have been in close contact with diagnosed cases.
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Surveillance: Collecting and analyzing data to monitor the trends of the outbreak.
Regarding the current status of those infected, Mohale sought to reassure the public, stating that the “majority of these cases have recovered.” He confirmed that only a “fewer cases” experienced severe symptoms that required hospital isolation and monitoring, though he did not provide an exact number of active cases.
“The situation is under control. There’s no need for the public to panic,” Mohale said. “What’s more important is for anyone who experiences any typhoid-related symptoms not to self-diagnose… but [to] present themselves to the nearest healthcare facility.”
Health officials are urging residents to remain vigilant and practice strict hygiene. Symptoms of typhoid fever can include sustained fever, headache, and gastrointestinal distress such as stomach pain, diarrhea, or constipation.
