A major public health crisis is looming in Mombasa County after the county government issued a health alert following a new outbreak of Hepatitis A.
Speaking to journalists in Mombasa, Mombasa County Health Executive Mohammed Abdi confirmed that 21 cases have so far been reported in the county.
Mr Ibrahim said the reported cases have come from several private hospitals within the city where the people affected have been admitted over the past few days.
The health executive attributed the outbreak of the disease to poor sanitation saying the outbreak could be linked to residents drinking contaminated water.
Mr Ibrahim noted that because of high temperatures, people are taking a lot of water maybe from unsafe untreated sources and this may have escalated the disease.
“We have over 21 cases in various private hospitals. The cases reported in these hospitals could be linked to residents drinking contaminated water,” he said.
He added, “We are suspecting poor hygiene and contamination of our water sources to be the leading cause of Hepatitis A.”
Mr Abdi added that the department of health in conjunction with the water department in the county, through the Mombasa Water Services and Coast Water Company, will ensure that piped water sources are treated.
The health executive urged members of the public to observe high standards of hygiene adding that the health department has started a public awareness programme and water treatment in the county, to contain the outbreak.
Hepatitis A is a viral liver disease that is transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food and water or through direct contact with an infected person.