The Elgeyo Marakwet County has dismissed reports on Social Media that an outbreak of Hepatitis A has been reported in the county.

Preventive Health Chief Officer Carolyne Magut termed the reports as misleading, saying the pupil who died in Sugut suffered from a different disease.

According to Magut, aflatoxin infection presents symptoms akin to Hepatitis, noting that samples of food from the home of the deceased have been taken for testing.

“After the death of the pupil, health personnel were discharged to the area to carry out surveillance. Aflatoxin presents symptoms like those of Hepatitis and we have also taken food samples for testing,” she said.

Addressing the press, she however observed that health personnel have been dispatched to the area to carry out surveillance and no positive case was found.

The deceased, a pupil at Sugut Primary School, had been admitted to the Iten County Referral Hospital, before being put on life care.

Dr. Magutt highlighted the causes of Hepatitis A, further urging locals to maintain high standards of hygiene in order to keep the disease at bay.

“The deceased had been admitted at the Iten County Referral before being put on life care. Our team did screening in Sugut area and also talked with residents, who were already in great fear. Hepatitis A is sprea through contaminated food hence would like to urge residents to maintain high standards of hygiene,” added Magutt.

Three children have died following an outbreak of Hepatitis A in Uasin Gishu County, a situation that has caused fear among residents, even as the health department in the county assures that action has been taken to tackle the outbreak.

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