Seventeen people have died of cholera at the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital in Accra since the first case was reported in January this year. This was confirmed to Joy News by the Head of Public Health Unit of the Hospital, Philip Amoo in an interview on Tuesday. According to him, a total of 636 cases of cholera have so far been reported, with the fatality rate inching to 2.7 per cent. Per the figures, three out of 100 cholera cases reported so far have been fatal, he noted. Mr. Amoo described the situation as grave and warned residents in Accra to be wary of the environment. He explained that one can only suffer an attack of cholera when the person comes into contact with human faeces. “Cholera cannot be spread by any other means unless human faeces,” he said, adding, the person may have accidentally drank water or eaten food mixed with faeces. He warned that with an acute cholera condition, death can occur within 12 hours of diarrhoea. He said residents must keep their hands clean at all times and wash their hands with soap before eating. He also advised residents to keep their environment clean. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana