Busia County Teaching and Referral Hospital. [Photo|BCG]Busia Health Official warns against drinking river water to curb more deathsA Busia County Health Official has attributed the death of five people who died on the New Year holiday in parts of Teso North to a delay in seeking care after developing diarrhoea and vomiting.This was contained in a report released on Sunday by Teso North Sub County Medical Officer of Health Dr Masitza Brian over the recent outbreak of diarrhoea in the region with 7 people being confirmed dead.Most of the deaths are attributed to delay in seeking care especially to individuals whose symptoms started in the night with the hope of waiting for daybreak to visit hospital."Other deaths have been reported in neighbouring Uganda with estimated deaths at 10 people with number affected unknown," Dr Masitza said.The Ministry of Health said of the seven deaths reported so far, one occurred at Kocholya treatment centre, one at Moding treatment centre and five deaths at the community level in Koruruma (1), Amoni (2) and Malaba Town (1).The index patient who died while in Uganda was a Kenyan citizen who had visited a relative in neighbouring country.He said county team and stakeholders had held three cross border meetings to curb further spread of the pandemic.There has been great achievement in handling the outbreak with the cases declining. However, a few cases are still being reported with increase in deaths due to delay in seeking care with fear of a second wave of outbreak.The outbreak is mainly cross border and occurring along the two main rivers of Komiriai (Malaba) and Malakisi, attributed to shortage of water compounded by dry weather. "Perennial water shortage and lack of clean safe water supply to the population, inadequate/lack of facilitation in terms of household visit, community education and distribution of chlorine tabs is another added factor," he said.

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