The Mombasa County Government has chlorinated more than 70 boreholes in the county after reports that 90 percent of borehole water in the region was contaminated.

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The campaign to stop the spread of Hepatitis A which started over the weekend has seen health officials chlorinate water sources in affected areas.

Mombasa County Secretary Francis Thoya said the county purchased chlorine that will be used to treat all the boreholes and water sources in the region after 114 cases of the disease was reported.

Mr Thoya said the chlorination exercise which intends to cover 1,000 boreholes will continue for the next two months in efforts to combat water-borne diseases during this rainy season.

He said most of the boreholes in the region especially in Mvita are contaminated because they are dug close to latrines.

“The septic tanks and cesspit are also dug very deep into the water levels thereby contaminating the underground water,” said Thoya.

“The county has already bought chlorine. The boreholes water chlorination exercise to treat all the boreholes and water sources has started in a bid to curb the spread of the disease,” he added.

He had attributed the outbreak of the disease to poor sanitation saying the outbreak could be linked to residents drinking contaminated water.

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.