Mombasa County has recorded 63 new cases of hepatitis A in the last seven days, bringing the total number of infections recorded this year to 114.

County Secretary Francis Thoya announced during a media briefing on the outbreak, that an all-out strategy to contain the viral liver disease was already in place, adding that the Department of Finance had set aside Sh11 million to buy drugs for the four affected sub-counties of Jomvu, Changamwe, Likoni and Mvita.

County health officials have pointed fingers at illicit bottled water sold at matatu terminus and make shift food kiosks as the leading causes of the liver disease.

“We have established that most of the bottled water sold at matatu termini has illegal seals and could be terminated,” Thoya said.

Hepatitis A is a viral liver disease that is transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food and water or through direct contact with an infected person.

SYMPTOMS

Yellowing of the eyes, vomiting, loss of appetite and dark yellow urine.

The county announced the hepatitis A outbreak last month.