By Own Correspondent| Bulawayo has recorded five suspected cases of cholera after two more patients were yesterday referred to Thorngrove Hospital for further assessment after they developed suspected symptoms of the disease.

On Friday, three people were quarantined at the infectious diseases facility after they developed cholera symptoms.

The two, who were referred yesterday, were initially admitted at United Bulawayo Hospitals. UBH chief executive Mrs Nonhlanhla Ndlovu last night said they had referred the patients for assessment.

“The patients were screened and sent there for further assessments,” she said.

However, Mpilo Central Hospital clinical director Mr Solwayo Ngwenya said there have not referred any suspected cases of cholera.

“As of now we have no referrals or cases sent to the infectious disease hospital. What we encourage is that residents remain extremely vigilant during this period as cholera is a very rapidly spreading disease. The moment one starts passing rice water stools then they must get treatment because cholera dehydrates a person very fast,” he said.

Mr Ngwenya said residents must not wait for a second bout of diarrhoea to attack them for them to go to a health institution saying they risk dying of dehydration. He encouraged increased personal hygiene and said people must not buy cooked foods from vendors as there is a high chance of contamination during this time.

The Bulawayo City Council said they will only confirm today whether the three patients who were quarantined on Friday were suffering from cholera or typhoid. In a statement, the local authority’s senior public relations officer, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu said the tests would help confirm if the cases were cholera, typhoid or none of the two.

“We are awaiting the results as the tests take about 48 hours or so, in the meantime we however, call on residents to maintain high levels off hygiene,” said Mrs Mpofu.

She said council was now increasing public awareness as efforts to prevent the spread disease in the city.-Sunday News