The Ministry of Health has issued a red alert over Cholera outbreak involving 61 cases in at least six counties.
The counties affected are Kiambu which has recorded a total of 31 cases, Nairobi 17, Murang’a 1, Kajiado 2, Nakuru 2, and Uasin Gishu 8.
Out of the 61 cases, 13 have been hospitalised, eight have been discharged while 40 have been treated as outpatients.
The Director-General of Health, Dr Patrick Amoth has stated that a team of experts from the Division of Disease Surveillance and Response (DDSR), Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Program (FELTP) and the County Departments of Health have commenced response activities to prevent further spread of the disease and manage the outbreak.
“The team will conduct field investigations, enhanced surveillance, laboratory testing, case management, risk communication, community engagement and environmental sanitation to prevent further spread of the disease and manage the outbreak,” he added.
Amoth has directed them to search for missed or unreported cases, strengthen surveillance in remote areas as well as Improve laboratory capacity for specimen collection and shipment
He has also warned that the outbreak might worsen as a result of the ongoing drought situation in various parts of the country.
“Noteworthy, the ongoing drought situation in the country may worsen the outbreak; it is therefore the Ministry’s decision to put all counties on high alert for possible cholera outbreaks,” Amoth said.
The Cholera outbreak alert comes after 15 people were rushed to the hospital after depicting symptoms of cholera.
They are said to have consumed food at a wedding in Limuru.
The food eaten at the event was suspected to have been ferried from Nairobi to the wedding venue by a catering company.
Symptoms in the early stages of infection include profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, rapid heart rate, loss of skin elasticity, dry mucous membranes, low blood pressure, thirst, muscle cramps and restlessness or irritability.
The ministry also warned that Cholera is an extremely virulent disease and affects both children and adults and can kill within hours.