Listeria claims one in Eastern Cape

One person in the Eastern Cape has died from listeriosis and 23 others tested positive for the food-borne disease in the past 10 months, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases.

Laboratory tests returned 24 positive results between February and November, according to a report from the institute. A total of 36 people have died from listeriosis nationwide.

Eastern Cape department of health spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo yesterday said the department was aware of two cases from the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro. He said other cases were reported in OR Tambo‚ Amathole and Sarah Baartman municipalities.

In Port Elizabeth, a Nanaga farm owner from Bluewater Bay was admitted to St George’s Hospital on September 25 after he was found unresponsive by his wife. The man, who had other underlying medical conditions, died the next day.

“He was on a strict vegan diet, drank filtered water and bought organic foods. Prior to the collapse, he ate pawpaw and flax seeds,” said Kapelo.

In the second case in the metro, a 69-year-old man visited a doctor on October 13, experiencing flu like symptoms. The next day, the Uitenhage man was taken to Cuyler Hospital after experiencing a severe headache and vomiting.

Bacterial meningitis was diagnosed, caused by listeria. He was hospitalised for a month and discharged. – ANA