3, September 2024
Author: Quinz Atdah Qeqe
Country: South Africa
Source: Getty Images
SUMMARY
In the first week of August, Bilharzia outbreak struck at local primary school in Petanenge Village, Tzaneen in Limpopo, where 67 pupils tested positive for the infectious disease. By the second week of August, it was confirmed that a total of about 142 learners from the Malwandla Primary School had contracted Bilharzia. Mobile clinics from the Limpopo Department of Health were dispatched to the school after the department was approached by the Elizabeth Home Foundation for urgent assistance (Dube, 2024). The affected learners have received medical attention, as the Health Department works with local water authorities to inquire about the source of the outbreak, in order to contain the spread of the disease in the province (Malogadihlare, 2024). Locals have been urged by the department to avoid water sources which may potentially be contaminated, while those that display symptoms of the disease are advised to go to their local health facilities for medical attention.
BACKGROUND
Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia) is an infectious disease caused by a parasitical worm found in fresh water sources (WHO, 2024). The parasitical disease is known to reside in the human veins, where it lays its eggs in tissues, this ultimately infects the body in particular the urinary tract and intestines.
On the 7th of August 2024, Amanda Mondlane – chair of the school governing body at the Malwandla Primary School in Petanenge Village in Tzaneen, Limpopo was informed that 67 pupils from the school had tested positive for Bilharzia (Dube, 2024). Mondlane was contacted after blood stains had been spotted in the boy's toilet, this during a routine checkup by officials from the Department of Education in Limpopo (Mthombeni, 2024). The affected pupils displayed common Bilharzia symptoms such as: bloody stools, abdominal pain, diarrhea, rash, fever, chills, muscle aches, and headaches.
Numerous reports indicated that the Malwandla Primary School uses pit toilets and sources its tap water from a borehole, which are currently under investigation by the Health Department as possible sources of the Bilharzia outbreak (Malogadihlare, 2024).
By the 2nd week of August, Mondlane had approached the Elizabeth Homes Foundation for assistance in transporting the growing number of affected pupils to the local clinic. The foundation reported the matter to the Limpopo Health Department which subsequently dispatched three mobile clinics to treat the infected learners (Dube, 2024).
About 142 pupils from Malwandla Primary School had contracted the disease.
Locals in and around Petanenge Village have called for urgency from the Health Department in investigating the cause and efficiently containing the disease (Sekwela, 2024). Furthermore, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo have called for the Limpopo Education Department to pay close attention to the disease, while enhancing its efforts in providing clean water and sanitary infrastructure to schools (DA. 2024).
The Department has taken test samples from the schools' borehole and the nearby river (Richidzeto) to determine the exact source of the disease – results are yet to be announced (Makhubela, 2024). Fortunately, all of the affected pupils have been treated in the past week, with zero reports of critical cases or casualties. Mondlane has confirmed that the Malwandla Primary School is up and running and schooling activities are back to normal (Mthombeni, 2024).
The Limpopo Health Department has assured locals from the Petanenge Village and the surrounding communities that steps would be taken to ensure that the disease is contained (Mabunda, 2024). Consequently, the Department has called on locals to take preventative measures such as avoiding potentially contaminated water sources such as rivers to ensure their health and safety.
REFERENCES
Dube, M. 2024. Limpopo Pupils Hit By Bilharzia Outbreak. The Citizen. August 28th. https://www.citizen.co.za/lifestyle/health/limpopo-pupils-hit-by-bilharzia-outbreak/. Date Of Access: 02nd September 2024
Getty Images. 2024. Illustrations Of A Schistosoma. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/illustration/illustration-of-a-schistosoma-royalty-freeillustration/1124683548. Date Of Access: 02nd September 2024
Mabunda, A. 2024. 142 Learners Test Positive For Bilharzia At Malwandla Primary School In Patenenge. Tzaneen Voice. August 28th. https://tzaneenvoice.co.za/142-learners-test-positive-forbilharzia-at-malwandla-primary-school-in-patenenge/. Date Of Access: 02nd September 2024
Makhubela, V. 2024. Health Team Dispatched To Treat Primary School Children With Bilharzia. CapricornFM. August 28th. https://www.capricornfm.co.za/health-team-dispatched-to-treat-primaryschool-children-with-birlhazia/. Date Of Access: 02nd September 2024
Malogadihlare, J. 2024. Limpopo Department Of Health Tackles Bilharzia Outbreak In A Local School. Inside Education. August 28th. https://insideeducation.co.za/limpopo-department-of-healthtackles-bilharzia-outbreak-in-a-local-school/. Date Of Access: 02nd September 2024
Mthombeni, N. 2024. School Back To Normal After Bilharzia Outbreak . Scrolla Africa. August 29th. https://scrolla.africa/school-back-to-normal-after-bilharzia-outbreak/. Date Of Access: 02nd September 2024
Sekwehla, J. 2024. Disease Outbreak Causes Panic In School. Daily Sun News. August 29th. https://www.snl24.com/dailysun/news/bilharzia-outbreak-in-limpopo-over-140-pupils-affected-atmalwandla-primary-school-20240829. Date Of Access: 02nd September 2024
Smalle, J, 2024. Bilharzia Outbreak A Warning For Limpopo Education To Prioritize Safe Water And Adequate Infrastructure. DA News. August 29th. https://limpopo.da.org.za/2024/08/bilharziaoutbreak-a-warning-for-limpopo-education-to-prioritise-safe-water-and-adequate-infrastructure. Date Of Access: 02nd September 2024
World Health Organization, 2024. Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia). https://www.who.int/healthtopics/schistosomiasis#tab=tab_1. Date Of Access: 02nd September 2024
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