NATIONAL NEWS - The Western Cape Health Department can confirm that there have been a number of cases reported of Enteroviral Meningitis in Mossel Bay between 1 December 2015 and 24 January 2016.
All cases are being treated successfully, no deaths have been reported.
No new cases have been reported in the past few days.
This is not the bacterial (known as the more lethal) strain of meningitis. It is not uncommon and the majority of cases do not require hospitalisation. However, it is a disease which is notifiable to the Institute for Communicable diseases (NICD), and thus a local response team was activated to monitor and contain the spread of the disease. This means that patients and their close contacts are screened and monitored. Currently it is contained to the Mossel Bay area and is monitored daily.
Symptoms can be varied, overlapping with various other illnesses. The common signs and symptoms to look out for are:
• Rash, sore throat and vomiting can also occur
Consult a doctor, clinic, or hospital immediately if a person shows any of the below mentioned danger signs:
- loss of consciousness,
- fits (seizures),
- muscle weakness, or
- a rash consisting of dark, red discolorations all over the body.
• Hand hygiene (regular hand washing with soap and water) and good personal hygiene helps to prevent infection with many viruses including enteroviruses. The virus is spread through contact with contaminated stool.
Adults should teach and encourage children to wash their hands properly, and emphasise regular handwashing when children are at school and in contact with other children.
'We bring you the latest Garden Route, Klein-Karoo, Hessequa news'
