Public hospitals in the Garden Route have recently reported an increase in Enteroviral Meningitis cases.
Since the 1st of February 182 suspected cases have been reported in the Garden Route District.
George Hospital has seen a total of 71 patients with suspected meningitis since the 1st of February 2019 of which 11 cases were confirmed by a laboratory.
Most cases are children under the age of 14.
In the Mossel Bay hospital, a total of 44 cases of suspected meningitis was confirmed and at the Knysna Hospital 66.
A government spokesperson Nadia Ferreira says none of the cases was from a single geographical area or source.
Since the last update on the 27th of February, an additional 25 cases were reported in Mossel Bay and one in the Hessequa municipality.
What is Meningitis?
Meningitis is an infection of the fluid that is found in the spinal cord and that surrounds the brain. It is usually caused by an infection with a virus or a bacterium (micro-organism). Enteroviruses are the most common cause of viral meningitis worldwide. It is a common virus that can enter the body through the mouth and travel to the brain and surrounding tissues. It is a mild illness and the majority of ill people will recover within 7 - 10 days.
Who are at risk?
People of all ages
People with a compromised immune system
Children under 5
What are the symptoms?
Fever
poor eating
irritability
lethargy (lack of energy) and sleepiness.
stiff neck
headache
sensitivity to bright lights
nausea and vomiting
Good hygiene practices including hand washing after using the toilet, changing nappies or visiting sick people and disinfection of surfaces will reduce the chances of getting an enteroviral infection. Covering your cough or sneeze, and washing hands thereafter is also helpful.
