Cholera outbreak leaves 20 people dead in March

At least 20 people have died in Turkana since the beginning of March after a cholera outbreak, the county government has said.

A cholera alert was reported on March 8 in Angarabat Village as it emerged that the disease had killed several people and left over 100 locals in hospital.

The 100 were however treated and discharged from Katilu Hospital in Turkana South.

The disease later spread to Turkana Central on the shores of the lake with Longech village being the worst hit and Kalokol Trading Centre.

County health officials admitted that fighting cholera has become a challenge because medics are forced to board boats to cross over to the island.

Mr. George Eregai, a resident of Longech said businesses in the area have been greatly affected after the government prohibited them from fishing in the lake to avoid spreading the disease further.

The national government recently allocated money to mitigate frequent cholera outbreaks in Turkana but the funds were allegedly misappropriated.