JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Health Minister Joe Phaahla said Monday that the country has recorded 46 suspected cholera cases and five laboratory-confirmed cases between Jan. 1 and Feb. 1.

Among the five laboratory-confirmed cases, three are imported from the neighboring country of Zimbabwe which is currently battling the outbreak of the diarrheal disease, while the other two are siblings with no travel history to cholera outbreak areas, Phaahla said at a media briefing.

Four of the confirmed cases were detected in Limpopo Province, and the other one was confirmed in Gauteng Province, Phaahla said.

"The country remains on high alert for (a) possible surge in cases at (the) community level," Phaahla said, adding that the local outbreak response teams have been activated to determine the source of infection and institute control measures to avert further local transmission.

All public and private health facilities are urged to remain vigilant due to the potential high risk of cholera transmission, according to the minister, who called for exercising caution and maintaining proper personal hygiene practices. Enditem

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