NAIROBI, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Ministry of Health said Tuesday that six people have died following a cholera outbreak across the East African nation.

Aden Duale, cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Health, said that in addition to the deaths reported in Migori and Kisumu counties in western Kenya and in the capital, Nairobi, 97 people have contracted the disease.

"The ministry has enhanced surveillance with the aim of containing the outbreak," Duale said in a statement released in Nairobi, adding that Kenya is adequately prepared to manage and contain the outbreak, which was first reported last week.

The ministry has initiated the training of health workers and launched public awareness campaigns on water hygiene and sanitation to help curb the spread of the waterborne disease, he said.

"We are on high alert in all counties. Surveillance activities have been stepped up, as well as intensified community awareness, to ensure that any alerts are responded to in a timely manner," Duale said.

Cholera is a bacterial disease usually spread through contaminated water. It causes severe diarrhea and dehydration, and can be fatal if left untreated. Enditem

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