Machakos County Public Health office has banned selling of cooked food on the streets of its major towns, estates and slums due to fear of cholera outbreak.
This comes barely two weeks after a man was diagnosed with cholera in Mlolongo town. He was admitted at a private hospital but was later transferred to Athi River District Hospital where he has since been recuperating.
The public health office has circulated new health regulations banning sale of cooked food such as "githeri", mandazi and mutura among others alongside cutting of fresh vegetables such as kales and all sorts of vegetables.
George Murage, a Machakos based public health official on Sunday told the press that cholera alerts had been circulated to health officers across the county. He said they were advised to remain vigilant to ensure hygiene was maintained by both businessmen and residents to avoid spread of the disease.
"It’s in public domain that Machakos County is prone to cholera outbreak since there have been few cases reported in various parts of the county," said Murage.
Murage disclosed that public health officers from the region were on high alert adding they were confiscating food sold under unhygienic conditions.
He said the officers had arrested more than 20 food dealers across the county who were charged accordingly for selling food on the streets.
The officer cautioned traders especially women who deal in fresh vegetables and fruits in the region against cutting them for their customers. He said some of them use dirty water to wash the products or at times fail to wash them.
He said the products should be sold to the residents without cutting as a way of preventing cholera.
Murage revealed that the targeted towns include Machakos, Chumvi, Athi River and Mlolongo, which have high populations.