Phaala: No need to panic over typhoid fever

Phaahla briefed the media on Thursday following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address.

There has been an increase in the number of typhoid cases in parts of  Gauteng, Western Cape and the North West.

Phaahla confirmed that typhoid fever is endemic to South Africa and is caused by Salmonella Typhi.

There have been sporadic cases in the country for over three years.

He has thrown his weight behind the tap water supplied by municipalities - saying it's not contaminated with the bacteria.

“There is no evidence linking the outbreak of enteric fever, commonly known as typhoid fever cases to municipal water sources anywhere in the country,” said Phaahla.

“Although South Africa is endemic for enteric fever caused by Salmonella Typhi, however, the prevalence of the disease is much lower than most other countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Typhoid remains a notifiable medical condition, meaning that all confirmed cases must be officially reported to the Department of Health.”

He said the number of reported cases in South Africa have declined over the last few decades.

“According to NICD, there is a localized outbreak, which affects very few people in a smaller area. This situation differs from province to province. The environmental health practitioners routinely carry out random microbiological and chemical analyses of water samples drawn from selected streams and rivers.”

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