At least seven people have been reported dead and 19 others are admitted at the Coast Provincial General Hospital following a cholera outbreak in Mombasa.

Two patients, mother and child succumbed to the disease on Tuesday while receiving treatment at the provincial general hospital while the other five died at various local health centres.

Medical personnel at the hospital have been forced to isolate the 19 patients to a quarantined ward to contain the spread

Most of the patients admitted have been put on a drip but appeared dehydrated.

Among those admitted are five children, eight women and six men who were brought in from local clinics in critical condition.

Coast Provincial General Hospital Chief administrator Dr.Heltan Maganga confirmed the first death of a 35 year old woman from Kongowea area, the worst affected by the outbreak.

He said already public health personnel have visited Kongowea, Kisauni, Bombolulu, Mishomoroni and Tudor areas where the outbreak has been reported.

The hospital attributed the cholera outbreak to flooding caused by poor drainage and uncollected garbage in the town.

Maganga advised residents to ensure they drink boiled water and wash their hands before taking any food to ensure they ae not infected.

The latets deaths come barely a day after Public Health minister Beth Mugo warned of a cholera outbreak in Nairobi.

Mugo said government's efforts to contain the disease were being hampered by water shortage that had hit the city and its environs.

The minister has ordered health officials to strictly inspect all eateries and ensure high standards of hygiene in response to the new upsurge in the outbreak that has hit several parts of the country.

Selling of food in the streets has also been banned.

Laisamis district in Eastern Province which is the hardest hit has reported 237 cases in the last one week alone and 14 people are admitted in various hospitals.