WUC water causes diarrhea outbreak - Maphorisa

Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Monday September 10, 2018 13:41

 

She said the outbreak was associated with drinking water provided by Water Utilities Botswana (WUC) and therefore her ministry had contacted WUC to look into the water distributed to the affected areas.

“The ministry has observed an increase in diarrhea cases since the last week of Augusts 2018. Affected districts include Francistown, Kgatleng, Selibe Phikwe, Boteti, Mahalapye and Gaborone,” she said.

The MoH&W stated in a press release that diarrhea was caused by various factors including microorganism and may cause acute life threatening illness. The signs and symptoms of the diseases includes nausea, vomiting and frequent profuse watery stool. Severe diarrhea mostly affects children less than five years of age and may rapidly progress to loss of body fluid and salts leading to dehydration and shock. 

The ministry has therefore advised the public to promptly report to the nearest health facility if they experience any symptoms of diarrhea, strictly observe personal hygiene measures such as hand washing with soap after visiting the toilet, before and after handling food and before and after feeding children, make sure that food is thoroughly cooked, wash fruits and vegetables with clean water before eating them, dispose of human excreta properly including children’s faeces and drink safe or treated water.

“All public Health and Wellness continues to monitor the situation and will keep updating the public,” the ministry stated.