General News of Tuesday, 18 June 2002

Source: GNA

Cholera Outbreak At Cape Coast

Fifty-two new cases of cholera have been reported at the Isolation Unit of the Cape Coast District Hospital since June 1.

Twenty of the cases were reported between June 14 and 15, but no deaths have been recorded.

Dr Yaw Ofori Yeboah, Municipal Director of Health Services, who disclosed this in an interview with the GNA on Saturday, said all the cases came from the municipality.

He mentioned the affected areas as Ola, Kotokoraba, Pedu, Brimsu and communities along the beach.

He said with the rains setting in, human waste and other materials had been washed into existing water bodies leading to widespread contamination and environmental pollution.

Thirty-four cases were recorded at the unit between January and May, he said adding that adequate measures were being put in place to contain the situation.

He advised the people to improve upon their personal and environmental hygiene and avoid eating cold and uncovered foods.

Last year a total of 832 cases with seven deaths were recorded at the unit with 392 of the cases coming from Komenda.