Two people dead, 26 hospitalised following cholera outbreak in Embu

Two people have died while 26 others are fighting for their lives in different hospitals in Embu County following cholera outbreak.

The two are believed to have succumbed due to continued vomiting and diarrhea as they were receiving treatment in Siakago and Runyenjes level four hospitals.

County Executive member for health Dr Jamlek Muturi said the 26 patient admitted in different hospitals in the county have been isolated to prevent spreading of cholera to other patients.

Dr Muturi said they suspect the cholera outbreak was caused by consumption of contaminated water.

Muturi said they have appointed a team of experts who are testing water from different rivers in the county to establish whether the water is contaminated with the bacteria.

"We have sent samples to government chemist for testing to confirm the contamination," he said.

Muturi said doctors will tour the homes of all patients who are admitted to establish their sources of water and put measures to curb the spread.

Muturi had on Sunday announced that the county government had banned food hawking and mass feeding in social gatherings as health officials try to curb down the situation.

This was after three patients tested positive to the cholera bacteria.

Muturi has now advised residents of the county to desist from consuming food from the streets and public gatherings since they don’t know the source of the water.

He said they are working in collaboration with the national government to make sure people will abide to the instruction laid out to prevent more death.

He assured the residents that the situation will be managed by their team of doctors who are working round the clock bring the health situation in the county back to normal.