Food vending banned to curb cholera spread

Hawking of cooked food in Ugunja Town, Ugenya District, has been banned following a suspected cholera outbreak.

The move comes after 10 patients showing cholera symptoms were admitted to Ambira Sub-District Hospital in Ugenya on Friday.

Of the 10, one case was confirmed, according to public health officials.

This forced the officers and Provincial Administration to hold an emergency meeting to map out strategies on how to curb the spread of the deadly disease.

Ugenya district commissioner Caroline Onchoka said, efforts were being made to contain it, adding that the public needs to observe proper hygiene.

She said that her office, working closely with the Public Health and Sanitation ministry, had called for a meeting with Ugunja Town Council and area residents to seek a lasting solution to perennial outbreaks of cholera.

The administrator said it was worrying that cholera breaks out in Ugunja Town every three months and steps must be taken to put a halt to this.

Greater Siaya disease surveillance officer James Sande said four patients were still admitted to Ambira hospital.

He said the public health department was concerned with the poor sanitation in the town and its environs.

High alert

The town lacks a proper waste disposal system, he added.

Elsewhere, the Nyanza provincial public health officer, Dr Jackson Kioko, said: “We have put districts on high alert to ensure that the situation is under control and plans are underway to curb any spread should there be reported cases in the province.”

He said they had alternative measures for Nyando and Nyatike districts, which were likely to be cut off by the floods.