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and they won’t be having the symptoms anymore, but when they dispose their excreta where it contaminates other people’s food or water, there can be an infection.”
He said there were chronic careers of typhoid who posed a threat to members of the public if they did not practise hygiene.
“It is important for people to practise hygiene and wash their hands before and after eating. They should not wash hands in a dish because they may get the disease if those who would have washed before them are infected. People should also avoid drinking water from shallow wells because there are high chances that the water will be contaminated.”
Harare City Council spokesperson Mr Leslie Gwindi said they had positively identified the bacteria in two patients and expressed confidence the outbreak will be contained.
“The big issue is to screen these people who are suspected because most of them are relatives so there are chances of them spreading it among themselves,” he said.
“The 21 have been admitted on the basis that they have been associated with each other. At the moment, those who have come for screening are from Dzivaresekwa.”
Mr Gwindi said city health officials and their partners were battling to contain the disease.
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Investigations were still underway to establish the severity of the outbreak.
Mr Gwindi said typhoid could be caused by dirty water and poultry products, especially eggs and chicken.
The outbreak follows almost two weeks of intermittent water supplies in the city’s western suburbs.
Water shortages had resulted in residents fetching water from unprotected sources, including Mukuvisi River which is infested with raw sewage.
Mr Gwindi urged the public to practise hygiene and drink clean water.
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Last year, typhoid claimed five lives in Mabvuku where over 300 people were infected.
Typhoid symptoms usually develop one to three weeks after exposure to the bacteria.
Health experts say the symptoms include perforation of bowels, delirium (severe psychiatric syndrome), dehydration and very high fever.
Other symptoms that manifest in the first and second week include profuse sweating, non-bloody diarrhoea and painful abdomen.
It is characterised by a slowly progressive fever. Less commonly a rash of flat, rose-coloured spots may appear.
Online Reporter