Wastewater failings raise fears over cholera outbreaks

Poor wastewater provisions across Ukraine have heightened fears that further outbreaks of cholera could blight the Eastern European country.

Green Party leader Oleksandr Prohnymak has warned that the poor drinking water quality seen across the nation could lead to future fatalities, Kiev-based news provider the Day reports.

This message comes after 15 people were thought to have been struck down with the condition in Mariupol, with the Donetsk Oblast Public Hygiene Authority stating that five of this number have been discharged following treatment, while three were let go having tested negative for the disease.

The amount of water pipes and networks that require improvement is increasing and Mr Prohnymak told the publication the dumping of waste into unauthorised water areas had reached "a catastrophic scale".

"A situation similar to the one in Mariupol may occur any time, at any place in Ukraine - from a large megalopolis to a small town or village," he was reported as saying.

On hearing of the spread of the disease last month, Rianovosti reported that Russian officials in the Rostov region tightened border controls with Ukraine.

Posted by Claire Manning