Diphtheria outbreak | One inmate dead, 8 test positive in Pollsmoor Prison

CAPE TOWN - The health department has confirmed one inmate has died following a diphtheria outbreak in the Western Cape.

The department 19-year-old inmate died on Sunday at the Pollsmoor Correctional Centre after presenting with symptoms of the infection.

Eight other inmates have tested positive following contact tracing and have been placed in isolation.

The deceased and the rest of the patients are within the age group of 19 to 23 years.

Symptoms include a sore throat and swollen glands.

Vaccination at the correctional centre is underway to prevent the further spread of this disease.