One dead, seven hospitalised as cholera strikes in Busia

One person is reported dead while seven others admitted at Port Victoria Level 4 Hospital following a cholera outbreak in Budalangi.

Those hospitalised have been put on quarantine in an isolated ward to help curb spread to other patients and locals.

According to the department of health report, the affected areas are Bunyala West, Bunyala North, Sigiri and Magombe East.

Asoka Itur, Busia County government Health department chief officer said the outbreak is attributed to lack of safe water in the sub county that has caused residents to use unsafe water from boreholes.

"The area lacks clean water due to ongoing repairs of water pipes which burst few days ago," said Itur.

The county government has dispatched a team of public health officers to tackle the spread of the disease being tasked to treat water sources in the constituency.

Itur said the county government has partnered with UNICEF to address the widespread of cholera that has also been reported in the neighbouring county Siaya.

The county government has banned open food eateries in the region and cooking food in ceremonies like weddings and funerals.

"We know residents from this region are used to feasting in funerals, weddings and other ceremonies. From today we have banned eating in such ceremonies until we arrest the situation," he said.

"We have also given orders to all makeshift food selling dens to close their businesses to avoid risks."

He advised residents to avoid defecating in the bush and ensure they maintain high levels of sanitation by washing hands after using toilets as well as before and after meals.

He appealed to locals to report any suspected cases to the health officials for early intervention.