Cholera outbreak: Board outlaws food hawking in Murang’a town

Murang'a Municipal Board has outlawed hawking of food in the town, in efforts to curb the spread of cholera.

Board Health and Sanitation Committee chairperson Dr Bernard Muia said the department of public health has been instructed to ban food hawking and deal with those who will defy.

On Monday, the board was forced to hold an emergency meeting following an outbreak of cholera last week.

The board banned food hawking within Murang’a town after investigations traced Murage stream as the source of the disease, which led to hospitalisation of the victims.

The four victims hospitalised at Murang’a Level Five Hospital originated from Mjini and Kayole areas within the municipality.

According to investigations, the cholera cases originated from the Murare stream that passes through Murang’a, and which is used by the majority of residents in low-income areas of Mjini and Kayole villages.

"Since we have established the source of water, public health technicians have been directed to firmly deal with food hawking as part of hygiene, "said Muia.

He added that the health officials have been directed to ensure water sources in Murang’a are safe. "We have to ensure from today henceforth water taken in Murang'a is safe,” he said.

At the same time, two victims of cholera who had been admitted at Murang'a Level Five Hospital have been discharged, two days after they were admitted.

The two were an eight-year-old boy and a boda boda operator who used water from the stream.  The victims had been put in isolation after they tested positive for cholera.

Murang’a Water and Sanitation Company (Muwasco) sent an alert to its customers asking them to take water from the taps.

Murang’a County Health and Sanitation Executive Joseph Mbai said public health officers have contained the situation, to block the spread of the disease.