Cholera outbreak hits Kenya

2005-01-28 10:52

Nairobi - A cholera outbreak in several villages in western Kenya has killed at least three people since water supplies were cut for non-payment of bills two weeks ago, the country's chief physician said on Friday.

In addition to the deaths, at least 120 people have shown symptoms of the potentially fatal disease in Busia district near the Ugandan border, James Nyikal, Kenya's director of medical services, said.

"Of those, 32 people have been admitted in hospitals and 33 others treated and allowed to go home," he said, adding that the outbreak began on January 13.

Local press reports have put the death toll at as high as eight.

Nyikal blamed the outbreak of the waterborne disease, which causes serious diarrhoea and vomiting and can be deadly if not properly treated, on villagers' use of contaminated water from the Suo River.

"The cause of the outbreak is using contaminated water from River Suo after piped water was disconnected for nonpayment of bills," he added.

Nyikal said the government has dispatched medical teams to the area, which is prone to cholera and other waterborne diseases. - AFP

- SAPA