DECEMBER 2017
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LISTERIA OUTBREAK The Department of Health is now faced with an added Festive Season Challenge. They are currently investigating a source of the Listeriosis outbreak which has so far resulted in the deaths of 37 people. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced that 557 cases where detected throughout the country. The latest fatality of the disease was 34 year old Sonette Clack from Moot in Pretoria. She succumbed to the disease after it resulted in Meningitis. Dr Juno Thomas, of the National Institute of Communicable Disease, said they are still collating information in KZN and cannot at this time say how many fatalities had occurred in KZN. However there 37 reported cases of infection. She said the disease broke out in Gauteng and Western Province, before featuring in KZN. Gauteng has the highest reported cases which is 62%, Western Cape 13% and KZN 7%. Dr Thomas also indicated that they were receiving assistance from the Department of Health as well as the Private sector in KZN to track where the disease had come from. This is being done by taking food samples from infected people. Speculation is that it originated either at a farm or processing plant. The concern that the disease would spread during the festive season when people would have large family meals to together is rife. Of the 557 laboratory confirmed Listeriosis cases, 34% had come from private health institutions. Given that only 17% of South Africans have access to private health facilities, this proportion is deemed too high, leading to the conclusion that the source of the outbreak is most likely to be a food product that is widely distributed and consumed by people across all socio-economic groups. Although Listeirosis can affect anyone, the highest risk is posed to newborns, the elderly, pregnant women and people with weakened immunity, such as HIV, Diabetes, Cancer, Chronic Liver or Kidney Disease patients. Although serious, the disease is treatable as well as preventable.
Signs & Symptoms
Symptoms of infection can show up a few days after one has consumed contaminated food or it can take up-to as long as 30 days before the first signs begin. Common symptoms include the sudden on-set of fever, chills, severe headache, vomiting and other flu- like symptoms. Some infected individuals may also experience muscle aches and gastro intestinal symptoms, such as nausea and diarrhoea, with the diarrhoea lasting between 1 – days. Most healthy adults and children who consume contaminated food usually only experience mild to moderate symptoms. Few people with normal immune function go on to have severe, life threatening forms of Listeriosis, namely:
men allegedly attacked a woman and bit off
surfacing in Pietermaritzburg as yet however the Specialised Crime Unit is keeping a close
Septic Shock, Meningitis and Encephalitis. Pregnant woman are more susceptible to Listeria infection. Illness normally occurs in the third trimester, which is when immunity is at its lowest. Infection during pregnancy can lead to premature labour, miscarriage, infection of the newborn or even stillbirth. Transmission and Infection Except for the transmission of mother to foetus, human-to-human transmission of Listeria is not known to occur. Infection is caused almost exclusively by the ingestion of the bacteria, most often through
the consumption of contaminated food. The amount of bacteria that must be ingested to cause illness is not known. How do you treat Listeriosis? Treatment of Listeria varies depending on the signs and symptoms. Most people with mild symptoms require no treatment. More serious infections can be treated with antibiotics. During pregnancy prompt antibiotic treatment may help keep the infection from infecting the baby.