Pretoria - The City of Tshwane health department has warned its health-care workers to be on alert for patients who present symptoms of monkeypox, to ensure prompt response and prevent possible outbreak.
This is according to mayoral committee member for Health Rina Marx, who assured residents Tshwane was ready and equipped to attend to health emergencies or outbreaks of notable diseases since three cases of the monkeypox were reported at national level.
She said it gave her confidence that City health-care workers were qualified to handle emergencies and were currently closely monitoring any possible notifiable disease outbreak.
“In South Africa, two cases have been reported on a national level. On our part we have sensitised our health-care workers to be on alert for patients who present symptoms to ensure a prompt response and investigation to prevent a possible outbreak.
“Regarding other public health concerns, since May, only five laboratory-confirmed cases of measles were reported in Tshwane, and this led to targeted vaccination campaigns in the affected areas. As a result, approximately 7 000 children were vaccinated.”
She said from December last year to date, 26 typhoid cases were also reported and every lab-confirmed case investigated in consultation with environmental health officials.
“Relevant food and water samples have been collected, to monitor and mitigate possible risks, and the City is closely monitoring all notifiable diseases, and we are also driving educational campaigns on our official social media accounts.”
She said they had noticed unfortunate cases of fake news on social media regarding the outbreak of cholera in the northern parts of Tshwane.
“This is false information. The matter was investigated and no cases of cholera could be confirmed.”
The other reported possible outbreak of eye infections (pink eye) in Pretoria West also appeared to be incorrect, and Marx encouraged residents to contact their nearest public health facility when they had concerns and needed clarity about health issues.
She also said people who presented symptoms of any notifiable disease should report to their nearest clinic as soon as possible to get the correct diagnosis and treatment.
Pretoria News