Tema, July 17, GNA - Five people died out of 87 recorded cholera cases within the Tema Municipality.

"Most of the victims contracted the disease from food bought from food vendors," Dr Ernestina Mensah-Quainoo, Tema Municipal Director of Health Services stated in a release.

The release noted that, this was due to contamination of such foods through the unhygienic handling of food after cooking by food vendors within the municipality.

Dr Mensah-Quainoo advised the public to eat hot foods, drink potable water, wash hands with soap and water, wash fruits and vegetables very well before eating, make use of places of convenience instead of defecating in the open to avoid contracting the disease. She asked Ghanaians to report immediately to the hospital when they experienced diarrhoea and vomiting saying that cholera treatment was free.

To the food vendors, the release urged them not to expose their wares to flies, dust and not handle their food with bare un-clean hands after cooking.

The release advised bakers and pastry makers to package their products in plastic bags at the bakery before delivering them to sellers and its storage should be done in a fly-proof environment. While urging fruit sellers to wash the fruits thoroughly before selling, it asked sachet water manufacturers to observe high standards of hygiene.