Health Protection Agency (HPA) has revealed that the number of reported cases of diarrhoea has been increasing since last July.

HPA noted that like previous years, the number of diarrhoea cases has been increasing since July. They noted the cause to be viral and that it was communicable from those who have diarrhoea.

HPA had also appealed all to wash their hands thoroughly after using the toilet, changing diapers and before preparation and consumption of food.

HPA further added that diarrhoea can be considered a symptom of typhoid fever however noted that only a few number of cases of typhoid fever are reported annually. General symptoms of typhoid fever include; Poor appetite, Headaches, Generalized aches and pains, Fever as high as 104 degrees Farenheit, Lethargy and Diarrhoea.

The agency stressed that typhoid fever is detectable through tests and that it can be diagnosed with antibiotics.

According to the statistics of HPA, the number of reported cases of diarrhoea doubled in July in comparison to June. As such, in June the number was at 1171 while in July it was 3808.

However the highest number of reported cases were in January of this year, where the number stood at 5500.