The County has announced an outbreak of Hepatitis A in Mombasa.
County health executive Abdi Mohammed Ibrahim
said 21 cases have so far been reported in several private hospitals within the city.
He said the outbreak could be linked to residents drinking contaminated water.
“Because of the high temperatures, people are taking a lot of water and maybe from untreated sources," he says.
Speaking in Mombasa on Tuesday, Ibrahim said his ministry has been in touch with the water department in the county through the Mombasa Water Services and Coast Water Company, who are now going to treat piped water sources.
The county government will also chlorinate boreholes and wells within the county, he added.
“That has already started and is ongoing from last week. We were surveying across the county to ensure that our water sources are treated."
Causes of Hepatitis A
The most common cause of hepatitis A, according to journal, is eating food contaminated by the stools of an infected person as a result of poor personal hygiene.
One may get hepatitis A after eating food prepared by an infected person who has not washed their hands properly.
It is also possible to become infected by drinking contaminated water.
This includes using ice cubes made from contaminated water and eating raw fruit or vegetables washed in contaminated water.
An outbreak occurs in areas that have high levels of poverty,
are overcrowded or
have limited access to sanitation and clean water.
