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'Cholera' kills four in Kenya
20/12/2006 10:06 - (SA)
Nairobi - A suspected cholera outbreak has killed at least four people in northern Kenya, a region badly hit by flooding, say officials.
The outbreak, believed to have been caused by villagers drinking contaminated water, hit the Ijara area, near the region's provincial capital, Garissa, some 300km east of the capital, Nairobi.
Red Cross officials said the deaths brought the toll to 118 people killed by flood-related incidents across the country since unusually heavy seasonal rains began pounding the country in late October.
Special programmes minister John Munyes said: "We have received reports that four people have died in the Ijara district." He said the deaths were suspected to have been caused by cholera.
Flooding affects 700 000 people
Munyes said: "Doctors have been sent to conduct examinations ... But, we believe the deaths are linked to the current flooding in the area that has led to poor sanitation."
Earlier this month, the International Red Cross said it was seeking $21.9m for flood relief efforts in Kenya, in addition to $7.9m that had been appealed for by the Kenya Red Cross Society.
The flooding had affected about 700 000 people across the country.
The new Red Cross figure brought to at least 318 the total number of people killed by floods in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, all of which had been hit by torrential rains expected to continue into January.
Damage in the three nations had been exacerbated by the effects of a previous scorching drought that had parched soil across vast swathes of land, leaving the earth unable to absorb the rainwater.
Aid agencies said the resultant displacement, cramped living conditions, lack of water and sanitation puts between 1.5 and 1.8 million people at risk from cholera, measles and malaria.
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