Four children have died while over thirty others have been admitted to various hospitals following a cholera outbreak in Mahaday town of Middle Shabelle region.
The outbreak, the first in the region since December last year, was first reported earlier this month.
Mahaday district commissioner, Ahmed Hussein Afrah on Sunday said the number was likely to rise because more patients with cholera symptoms were being admitted.
“All those died of the disease are children, with the re-emergence of cholera in the town, we are calling upon the residents to observe cleanliness and avoid public eateries. If anyone wants to be safe from the disease, drink treated water and encourage the use of toilets,” he said
Afrah said the cases were mainly from homes in the outskirt of the town.
The patients are hospitalised at Mahaday Dispensary, Mahaday hospital and other health Centres in the town.
He said lack of water in the area was the leading cause of the disease.
“We have not been supplied with clean drinking water for a long time. Most of the people in the region use water from borehole and stagnant water resources which are contaminated,” said Afrah warned.
