At least 29 patients confirmed to have contracted cholera are being treated at the Mandera County Referral Hospital.

All the 29 cases are from across Mandera East, with Neboi village accounting for ten cases followed by Boys town village which stands 17.2pc.

Confirming the cases Mandera Deputy Governor Dr Ali Maalim said surveillance in the county has been heightened to ensure adequate response in case the outbreak spreads in the sub counties.

He added Water, Sanitation and Hygiene program  in all health facilities in the county have been strengthened to ensure the cholera outbreak is contained .

At the same time, he urged residents to maintain hygiene and liaise with the public health office so as to get supplies of chlorine tabs to treat their drinking water.

He further called  on the population, especially those in areas affected by cholera to observe hygiene measures individually and collectively to avoid contacting the disease.

Residents are, however, wary that the outbreak might spread further due to poor levels of hygiene and sanitation in parts of the county

Cholera is an acute diarrhoea illness caused by infection of the intestine with Vibrio cholera bacteria.

The acute diarrhoea infection is caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholera.

If left untreated the disease can kill within hours.

The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but can sometimes be severe and life-threatening.