NICD: 'No evidence' linking typhoid outbreak to municipal water
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases says there is no evidence linking the typhoid fever outbreak to municipal drinking water in any part of the country.
This after messages were circulating on social media, alleging that the bacteria causing the enteric fever has been recently identified in municipal water sources.
"There are numerous social media posts with false information about enteric fever in South Africa that are attracting widespread attention and causing needless concern and panic at the moment," the NICD said in a statement on Monday.
"There is no evidence that recent cases of enteric fever are linked to contaminated municipal water in any part of the country, and there is no evidence that the bacteria causing enteric fever have recently been identified in municipal water sources anywhere in the country."
READ: SA records decline in new Covid-19 cases, positivity rate also down
Small clusters of cases have only been confirmed in Gauteng, the Western Cape and the North West provinces.
Typhoid fever is transmitted from person to person through the fecal-oral route, where an infected person with poor hygiene passes the infection when handling food or water.
The NICD is urging the public to wash their hands, especially after using the toilet, changing nappies or eating and when preparing food, to reduce the risk of infection.
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