The outbreak of listeriosis in South Africa has been an ongoing catastrophic mystery that could not be solved, well until now. Minister of Health, Aaron Motsoaledi made the announcement today that a source of listeriosis has been identified to be polony products from Enterprise Foods factory in Polokwane, Limpopo.
More than 16 environmental samples from the Enterprise Polokwane factory tested positive for the listeriosis monocytogenes strain ST 6. The results from the factory were confirmed at midnight on Saturday at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases.The strain is to blame for the outbreak that killed 27% of patient in South Africa.
Enterprise has started to protect it's twitter page and many consumer stores such as Pick n Pay have already announced that they have taken down all products linked to the outbreak and urge their customers to return the products they bought so that they can get a refund.Products such as polonies, viennas, russians and cheese are sources of this outbreak and everyone is urged to stay away from them together with processed meats and already made (cooked) meat in stores; especially pregnant women ( as listeriosis is to be blamed for the rise in the number of still borns), people with weak immune systems due to diseases such as diabetes and HIV and babies. Enterprise foods and Rainbow Chicken Ltd foods in Polokwane have suspended from exporting their goods.
I think that the identification of the sources of listeriosis came when needed the most as the number of deaths due to this disease was increasing and it was becoming an epidemic. The minister of health and his team need to be congratulated as they worked tirelessly to find the source. It is just sad how the brands linked to this disease will lose out on business for a certain period before bouncing back again. I guess it is a win or lose situation. You win some and you lose some.
To read more about the outbreak, click on the link below:
https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2018-03-04-breaking-enterprise-polony-identified-as-source-of-listeria-outbreak/
Thank You For Reading. Please comment and share. H&W.
will the effects of this outbreak be dealt with in a manner that it doesnt spread in rural areas?
ReplyDeleteI am happy that this is identified early too. However, I feel that those responsible of ensuring that this does not happen must be held accountable.
ReplyDeleteThe information from the government is very useful and we should and are thankful for the warnings but isn't it a bit late, I mean what about the half eaten polonies, the already open Vienna and Russian packets? Are we getting treatment for the half eaten products? I think there should be a reevaluation of the outbreak and carefully look into treating the "might be" infected people in relation to the seizing the products
ReplyDeleteWe must be glad for this information because this products are highly demanded it means the were lot of people that were going to die this information is useful but sorry to those that will loss their jobs because this companies that were selling this product have to close
ReplyDeleteThis listeriosis disease can be deadly.May the relevant departments provide sustained monitoring to curb the outbreak.
ReplyDeleteohh my,I think is just coincidence with the changes in governing our country.What I like is that Listeria is full treatable,we have to be abreast of its symptoms.
ReplyDeleteThis diseases has cost a multi-million business where people will lose jobs, but we are grateful of the information that we received early even though some of us are no longer because of this, but many lives will be saved. Department of Health should do a follow up on this and start monitoring the products that we import as South Africa for our own Health as South Africans.
ReplyDeleteAll i can say about this desease is that people must just listen to the health officials not listening to people making jokes on social media.
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