South Africa calls for vigilance as cholera deaths rise

South Africa’s health authorities are urging residents of the province of Gauteng to be vigilant about the liquids they consume as the death toll from a winter outbreak of cholera rises to nearly 50, local media reported.

Unions and community groups have demanded more government intervention to improve water quality.

Most of the deaths over the last six weeks have occurred in the Hammanskraal area, where residents say they have battled for weeks for access to clean water, but there have been cases across the country.

In many areas, tap water is unsafe and people are forced to rely on government tankers.

Cholera, which is mainly spread by contaminated food and water, causes acute diarrhoea and vomiting and can kill within hours if untreated.