Food hawking banned after cholera outbreak kills two in Tharaka-Nithi County

Tharaka-Nithi County Health Executive Magdalene Njeru demonstrate how to wash hands at Kathwana Primary School. She has banned food hawking in the county after two people died and several others were hospitalised following a cholera outbreak. PHOTO | ALEX NJERU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Ms Njeru asked those with cholera-like symptoms to go to hospital for treatment.
  • Mr Murata confirmed the disease to be cholera after taking samples of stool and water to government laboratories in Nairobi last week.
  • On Friday, two women were arraigned in a Chuka Court after they were arrested while hawking milk.

The Tharaka-Nithi County government has banned food hawking after two people died and several others were hospitalised following a cholera outbreak.

County Health Executive Magdalene Njeru said Sunday the disease had spread to Igumo Location in Tharaka South.

“No food should be sold on the streets until we eradicate the disease that is spreading very fast,” said Mrs Njeru adding that it was important to put people on high alert over the waterborne disease.

She asked public health officers to shut down hotels that do not meet health standards.

Mrs Njeru warned those without toilets in the homes that they will not be spared either.

“The disease has been caused by poor hygiene especially on human waste disposal,” she said.

Meanwhile, she has asked those with cholera-like symptoms to go to hospital for treatment.

“Don’t take any chance of keeping a patient showing symptoms like those of cholera at home,” she advised.

Tharaka North Public Health Officer Njagi Murata said a team was still camping in Ntoroni, Riamikua and Gatithini villages where two people died and others were admitted to Mukothima Mission Hospital.

He confirmed the disease to be cholera after taking samples of stool and water to government laboratories in Nairobi last week.

On Friday, two women were arraigned in a Chuka Court after they were arrested while hawking milk.