Cholera death toll in Ghanaian capital rises to 15

The death toll from cholera outbreak in Ghana's capital, Accra, has risen from five to 15 out of over 850 reported cases, health officials said Wednesday.
Between June and July, the Greater Accra region has recorded a total of 878 cholera cases, with the Accra Metropolis alone accounting for 604 of the cases and eight deaths.
Poor sanitation in the metropolis has been cited as the main cause of the outbreak of the disease, thereby bringing pressure on infrastructure at various hospitals and clinics.
Health experts had predicted the incidence of the disease and death toll could escalate, primarily with the onset of the rains coupled with poor environmental hygiene and inadequate safe water.
But senior health officials say the disease is not yet at its peak but have cautioned the public to take precautionary measures to avoid contamination, including eating cooked food while it was still hot, boiling drinking water and washing hands with soap before eating.
They have also advised the public to report suspected cholera cases to the nearest health facilities since early reporting is very critical to treating the disease.
Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium, Vibrio cholerae.
It has a short incubation period of less than one to five days, and produces an enterotoxin that causes copious, painless, watery diarrhea that can quickly lead to severe dehydration and death if treatment is not promptly given.
According to the World Health Organization, up to 120,000 people die each year from cholera.
Ghana recorded more than 94 deaths out of 8,494 cases of cholera in 2011, according to official figures from the health service.