Kisumu county government has banned hawking of food and open eateries following the outbreak of cholera.
One person has died of the disease and 21 more are admitted to hospitals.
County director of health Dickens Onyango said the ban is aimed at containing the possible spread of cholera to other parts of the county.
“Open cooking and eateries are hereby banned forthwith with immediate effect from September 26 until further notice,” he said.
Onyango said they are also inspecting food outlets in the county to ensure they abide by the county’s Public Health Act.
He asked residents to desist from buying food from hawkers as well as outlets operating without licenses.
The director cautioned residents to be on high alert following the outbreak of cholera. There was fear in the county over the possible spread of cholera due to the just concluded health workers’ strike.
The tests on samples taken from some patients at Gita sub-county hospital in Kisumu East to Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) turned out positive on Wednesday.
Onyango said they are working with the public health department to sensitise the community and give them water treatment kits to villagers living along rivers.
As the county government confirms that one patient died of cholera there are fears that the toll could be higher.
County government spokesperson Aloice Ager said 28 people exhibiting cholera-like symptoms were received at Gita Hospital and examined on September 23, 2019.
Twenty-four people, Ager said, were treated and discharged, while four were admitted for further management.
Onyango has been cautioned residents living along River Awach in Kisumu East to avoid drinking water from the river.
