Five children died of diarrhoea in South Africa

0

An outbreak of diarrhoea has claimed five lives in Upington town in the Northern Cape province of South Africa.
The epidemic which started two weeks ago has killed five children so far.
The?number of patients that have been treated at Gordinia hospital has risen to 450.
Medical authorities in the province said that the epidemic is the worse in 30 years.

Dr Mark Atkins, Northern Cape Paediatric surgeon, said that they are trying to establish the cause of the epidemic.
“We basically see a large number of children coming in for treatment daily?and we treat them for what we diagnose from the laboratory.
“We treat the symptoms and we are sending in all the necessary samples?to the laboratory to try and establish the necessary diagnosis of what is causing the diarrhoea,?? Atkins said.

He said the National Health Department has intensified its search for the source of the diarrhoea outbreak.

“We are still waiting for the results of water and stool samples that have been sent to the University of Pretoria for laboratory test,?? Atkins said.

He, however, advised parents to come for immediate treatment if they notice any of their children?vomiting or?stooling.?.
“Any child that is not drinking water regularly is well, I would say those are the red flags and they should immediately come to seek help at the clinic or at the local hospital,?? Atkins said.
He urged the residents of the area to take precautionary measures to prevent the disease from spreading.

Send your news stories to [email protected] Follow News Ghana on Google News

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here