Acute diarrhoea kills 12 in Baladweyne, another 8 admitted

At least 12 people have died while 8 others have been admitted to various hospitals in the last  one week following an outbreak of acute diarrhea in and around the town of Baladweyne town of Hiraan region, the town’s mayor said.

“12 people from Baladweyne town and the villages around it have died in Baladweyne Hospital and over 8 others are recuperating,” Baladweyne Mayor, Omar Adan deeqow Suleiman Hashi said.

Three of the dead were children, according to reports the hospital.

Mr. Deeqow, said the number was likely to come down because more patients have been treated and more precautions implemented.

“With the re-emergence of diarrhea in the region, we are calling upon the residents to observe cleanliness and avoid public eateries. If anyone wants to be safe from the disease, drink treated water,” he said.

He said the cases were mainly from homes surrounded by river Shabelle and Flooded areas.

“Hospitals have admitted more cases from Flooded areas near the river,” he said.

He said lack of water in the area was the leading cause of the disease.

“People have not been getting clean drinking water. Most of the people in the region use water from river Jubba which is contaminated,” said Deeqow.