Health officials in the Marshall Islands are trying to locate the source of an outbreak of typhoid fever with 24 reported cases of infection in the capital Majuro.
Yokwe Online reports that the disease, most often caused by fecal contamination in the water supply, appears to be coming from the Rita area.
The Chamber of Commerce says that this area of Majuro has had problems with ground water wells for over two years and most households are not connected to the island's sanitary sewers due to failure to pay for Majuro Water and Sewer services.
While there are vaccines for Typhoid available, supplies are not on-island.
Residents are advised to boil any ground water obtained from wells to kill this kind of bacteria.
