KENYA: Acute watery diarrhoea kills eight in Coast Province

Photo: Noor Ali/IRIN

Children fetching water: An outbreak of acute watery diarrhoea in Coast Province has been attributed to poor sanitation and lack of clean drinking water following heavy rain in most parts of the province

MOMBASA, 18 June 2009 (IRIN) - An outbreak of acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) has killed eight people and infected 21 others in Kenya's Coast Province, according medical sources.

Over the past two weeks two deaths were reported in Mombasa, three in Kilifi District and three others in health centres in Malindi District.

"We are still receiving more patients from various parts of the province who have been diagnosed with the ailment. However, we are doing everything possible to provide the necessary treatment needed," Helton Maganga, chief administrator at the Coast Provincial General Hospital, the largest referral hospital in the province, told IRIN on 18 June.

Maganga said a special ward had been set aside to cater for the AWD patients.

The outbreak was attributed to poor sanitation and lack of clean drinking water following heavy rain in most parts of the province which has destroyed sewage pipes and swept away pit latrines.

The most affected areas are Kilifi and Malindi districts. In Mombasa, those affected are in Mishomoroni, Kongowea, Kisauni and Likoni estates where sewerage systems have burst.

David Katana, a resident of Mishomoroni estate in Mombasa who was admitted to hospital, fell ill a week ago.

"I started to diarrhoea, vomit and was feeling dizzy but I had no idea that I had contracted the disease; when I was brought to hospital I was told that I had it," he said.

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