The Limpopo health department is working closely with provincial water authorities to find the source of the outbreak of bilharzia in the Greater Tzaneen local municipality.  

This comes after an increase in the number of positive cases to 155, from the initial 142 confirmed cases at Malwandle primary school in Petanenge on August 28.

Bilharzia is a parasitic disease caused by flatworms that live in freshwater sources such as rivers and dams. People become infected when they come into contact with contaminated water. The disease can lead to serious complications if left untreated. 

“Symptoms of bilharzia include fever, fatigue, abdominal pain and blood in urine or stools,” Limpopo health department explains.

Task team

The provincial government has since formed a task team made up of representatives from the premier’s office, departments of health, basic education as well as cooperative governance and traditional affairs to monitor the outbreak and make necessary interventions.

The team is currently testing water quality in rivers, dams and commercial swimming pools that people visit for leisure.

“We cannot allow our children to suffer from preventable diseases because it is our responsibility to ensure they are healthy and can focus on their education,” says health MEC, Dieketseng Mashego during an address to learners, parents and stakeholders gathered at Thabina primary school. She visited the area this week.  

“Parents should please meet us halfway by ensuring that children do not come into contact with unclean water.”

Promises of clean water 

The Mopani District Municipality promises to supply clean water to residents to help contain the outbreak.

“We improve water supply to areas where supply is not adequate and we are doing that through water tankering. The district municipality is part of the Joint Operation Committee led by the provincial government to tackle the current bilharzia infections.

“Our water quality team and the environmental health practitioners are frequently taking samples from our supply network for testing. And we have also taken samples from the borehole at Malwandla Primary School and the results came back negative,” district municipality spokesperson Odas Ngobe tells Health-e News.

A mother whose 14-year-old daughter tested positive for the disease says recreation facilities for children can help keep most of them away from playing in unsafe rivers and pools.

“But the problem is vandalism of government established facilities in our places. This means police and us as residents should join hands in order to be safe from diseases and crime. For now I am glad no one among the children who are infected is in a critical state. Despite complaining of some stomach pains and some blood in her urine, my daughter is fine,” she says.

No admissions yet 

 “There is no case of hospitalisation due to this particular outbreak yet and all cases are treated on the spot or at clinics as outpatients.

“Though adults do get infected, children are more vulnerable due to their underdeveloped immune system,” provincial health department spokesperson Neil Shikwambana tells Health-e News.

There is currently no known vaccine against bilharzia and people are treated with medication when found to be positive.“The best way is to avoid contact with contaminated water. People should report to the nearest health facility or to their private medical practitioners as soon as they suspect symptoms of bilharzia,” says national health department spokesperson Foster Mohale. – Health-e News.