Staff Reporter
AS of 12 January 2026, a total of 99 suspected cholera cases were recorded in Grootfontein. Of these, 32 are confirmed cholera cases.
Penda Ithindi, the Executive Director within the Ministry of Health and Social Services, however, stated that no fatalities have been reported in relation to the deadly acute diarrheal infection, which is caused by consuming water or food that contains the bacteria.
“Currently, the outbreak remains small, with about two cases reported daily, but transmission is still ongoing. The Ministry is fighting this aggressively. We have taken a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to address this outbreak. We have deployed a national multi-sectoral response team to the Otjozondjupa Region to intensify not only surveillance and testing but also case management,” Ithindi said.
He added that because the outbreak is driven by challenges with water, sanitation, and hygiene, they are working with partners to provide safe water, improve sanitation, and manage waste removal appropriately.
“With schools just having reopened, we are also partnering with the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture to ensure that schools are safe and informed,” Ithindi said, adding that cholera is often an indicator of social development challenges; therefore, addressing it requires “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” approaches.
“We need government sectors, NGOs, community leaders, and the media to work together to address this outbreak,” Ithindi stressed.
The common symptoms of cholera include sudden watery diarrhoea and vomiting, which can lead to severe dehydration if left untreated. Community members who experience any of these symptoms are urged to visit their nearest health facility immediately.
For more information, please visit the social media pages of the MoHSS, or call their toll-free number at 0800 100 100.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photo: Contributed
