ABC World News Australia
South African
authorities say an outbreak of cholera in a prison has infected
more than 600 inmates.
Africa correspondent
Sally Sara reports, tests are being conducted on the prison water
supply.
The Department of Correctional Services says the outbreak
is extremely serious. More than 600 inmates at Westville prison
outside Durban have already contracted the disease. The inmates
are suffering from diarrhoea, vomiting and dehydration. Correctional
services officials say the jail is being cleaned and prisoners
are being ordered to wash themselves with medicated soap. The
exact source of the outbreak is unknown. But, it comes after thousands
of people in nearby areas have also been infected with cholera.
Health authorities are struggling to contain the disease, which
has killed more than 200 South Africans, since August last year.
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