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General News of Monday, 9 April 2001

Source: UN Integrated Regional Information Network (Nairobi)

Typhoid Outbreak in Greater Accra

Cases of typhoid fever have been reported in the Greater Accra Region in Ghana, the 'Daily Graphic' newspaper reported the Ministry of Health as saying in a statement on Friday.

The ministry said reported cases of the disease were on the increase and many people had been admitted to hospitals. Adding that it was investigating the cause of the outbreak, it advised the public to drink water from safe sources and not to eat at unhygienic establishments. Up to mid-afternoon on Monday no official statement had been released on the number of people killed or affected by the outbreaks, Abigail Bonsu, a journalist at the newspaper, told IRIN.

Typhoid fever is transmitted by food and water contaminated by the faeces and urine of patients and carriers. Polluted water is the most common source of typhoid.