CAPE TOWN- The Ministry of Health confirmed on Sunday that the source of the listeriosis outbreak has been traced.
Popo Maja spokesperson for the health ministry said it would be announced at a press conference at the National Institute of Communicable Diseases at midday.
Maja said in a statement, “Following intensive investigation and laboratory work undertaken to establish facts on the causes of listeriosis outbreak, the Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi will on Sunday brief the media on the progress made to contain the spread of this disease,”
“Minister Motsoaledi will also announce drastic measures that government has decided take in order to contain listeriosis in South Africa.”
The statement also said that scientists working on identifying the outbreak will be in attendance.
Listeria is a bacterium that is naturally found in the environment – it commonly found in soil, water, vegetation and in the faeces of some animals.
It can contaminate a number of food types, such as meat, meat products, dairy products (unpasteurised and pasteurised), fresh and frozen produce (fruits, vegetables and sprouts) and ready-to-eat products.
The confirmed death toll of Listeriosis was at 172 according to government numbers in mid February and a reported 915 cases of the disease have been confirmed since January last year.
Photo Credit- EnviroNews Nigeria
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