Ministry of Health warns of cholera outbreak with ongoing rains

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has issued a warning to five counties of Cholera disease outbreak with the ongoing rains experienced all over the country for the last few days.

The counties are expected to increase surveillance and urge its residents to treating their water before drinking together with observing personal hygiene.

Since the beginning of the year suspected 1,463 cases of cholera have been reported, with 81 cases testing positive of the disease.

“With the start of the rains, the ministry fears, there is a worrying possibility that the infections could rise. The risk factors for the transmission of cholera, like unavailability of potable water, poor sanitation and hygiene practices, still persist in high-risk areas and the situation is likely to be exacerbated in view of the upcoming long rains,” explained the MoH.

The counties warned include: Narok, Kajiado, Nairobi, Garissa and Machakos.

Recent Cholera outbreaks have been reported and still active in Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado and Garissa counties.

[Read: Cholera outbreak hits Nairobi with 14 hospitalized ]

In Nairobi County, cases where the disease is concentrated include: Starehe, Embakasi East, Embakasi West, Kibra and Mathare sub-counties.

In Kajiado County, more cases have been reported in Ongata Rongai, Garissa County has been affected in the Hagadera Refugee Camp.

The ministry further confirmed that the 65 cases of cholera reported at the Nairobi Hospital were caused by unsanitary food served at the hospital’s staff cafeteria, affecting mostly hospital staff and students.

[see also: Water disinfection to help Kenya avert cholera crisis ]

“Out of the 10 stool samples taken from the cases and food handlers at the institution for laboratory testing in NPHLS, six tested positive for vibrio cholerae,” a statement by the ministry revealed.

Wajir and Marsabit have also reported cases of cholera, with Wajir reporting 35 and Marsabit 260, out of which 100 have tested positive.