Danger in the disease-laden Buffalo River
There’s too much bacteria – experts
By Sven Herselman
East London, South Africa
CONCENTRATIONS of hepatitis A-causing bacteria and faecal matter in the Buffalo River are at an unacceptable and dangerous level. This is according to the head of the Border Occupational Health and Environmental Services, Di Nicolay.
She warns that with the start of summer, and in particular the school rowing season, residents must be sure that they are inoculated against the diseases caused by such bacteria.
Nicolay was speaking after viewing a report compiled by a private company on the status of the Buffalo River. She said she was not authorised to reveal the company’s name, but urged people to be aware of the situation.
“The levels of faecal coliform and E.. coli are way above the acceptable levels,” Nicolay warned. She said that the bacteria may be filtering into the river through the soil from nearby landfills. “But you don’t need a report to know that the river is unacceptably filthy. When you look at the river you can see the sludge that it being washed down,” said Nicolay.
According to her, last year an outbreak of hepatitis A amongst some communities living near the Buffalo River resulted in the death of a young girl. “It seems to have all been pushed under the table,” said Nicolay. “It will be interesting to see what a new investigation can turn up.”
She said that as little as a scratch on one’s skin could lead to infection, if the scratch came into contact with the bacteria-laden water. She said that according to the report the high levels of bacteria occur from Second Creek down to the harbour.
Selborne College’s rowing coach, Kevin Taylor said he was aware of the state of the river but did not share Nicolay’s alarm: “The river has probably been like this for about 20 years, but they have only starting checking lately,” said Taylor. “We do tell the kids of the dangers, and it is then their choice whether they want to row on the river or not.”
He said that he was more concerned about what he believes to be the illegal dumping of chemicals into the river. “We see big patches of red or purple or blue on the water, which must be chemicals that have been dumped in the river,” said Taylor. “It is unfortunate that there isn’t more control over that sort of thing.”
He speculated that the high level of bacteria in the river may be a result of the various informal settlements along the banks of the river. “When it rains you can smell the sewerage in the river. It’s probably coming from the informal settlements along the river,” said Taylor. He added that he had never had any of his rowers become infected with hepatitis A. “There is the occasional stomach problem but we don’t even know if that is caused by the river water,” said Taylor.
The symptoms of hepatitis A are influenza-like at first, but include nausea, headaches, a yellowing of the skin and results in the patient being incapacitated for the best part of six weeks. “It affects the liver, so once you recover you can’t eat any fat or drink any alcohol,” explained Nicolay.
The Municipality had not commented on the issue by the time of going to press. A spokesperson said the relevant authority would comment on the issue at a later stage, after studying the submitted questions.
Questions submitted to the director of communications for the Eastern Cape’s department of health, Mzukisi Ndara, had also not replied by late Wednesday.
