The Ministry of Health is keeping close surveillance on Garissa, Wajir and Tana River counties following the recent increase in cases of Cholera.
The three counties are among 14 counties that have been seriously affected by the disease since October last year when the first case was reported.
The cases in Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, Nakuru and Uasin Gishu have gone down, but the ministry is warning Kenyans against laxity even as they try to stop the spread of this acute diarrhoeal disease.
Three months after the first case of Cholera, more than 3,000 people have been affected in 14 counties.
The spread has been attributed to the movements and sharing of meals during the festive season.
According to the head of Disease Surveillance and Response at the Ministry of Health Dr. Emmanuel Okunga, three out of 14 counties are under close monitoring due to the increase in numbers in the last few weeks.
Acting Garissa Health CEC Mohammed Salah said: “So far, as at January 13th, we have 17 cases in our wards; in Dadaab sub-county we have 14 cases and Lagdera we have 3 cases. The total number of cases we have treated since the outbreak are 1,777 persons, with 1,629 from the refugee camps.”
Dr. Okunga stated: “We have a large influx of refugees that are congested and therefore sanitation challenges exist in the camps in Garissa. We’re also having the neighboring counties of Tana River and Wajir as our major areas of concern.”
The counties that have reported Cholera cases since October last year are: Nairobi, Kajiado, Kiambu, Nakuru, Murang'a, Uasin Gishu, Machakos, Garissa, Meru, Nyeri, Wajir, Tana River, Kitui and Homa Bay. The latest cases are four deaths in Kitui County.
Dr. Okunga added: “The cases that occured in Kitui were linked to cases from Tana River, Madogo area, and these were people that come from the Kavonokia sect in Kitui; they don’t believe in presenting themselves to hospital. However, the county health department working with the provincial administration in Kitui were able to get the others who were not dead to hospital and they were treated.”
According to Dr. Okunga, the Ministry of Health is working with other stakeholders such as the misistries of Water and Interior in order to stop further spread of the disease.
Kenyans have been urged to observe cleanliness in the homes and ensure they consume well-cooked food and boiled water.
“What we encourage is that when you have acute diarrhoea, you should start taking ORS even at home, if you don't have it take home made ORS made from clean, boiled water and salt,” added Dr. Okunga.
So far 70 people have died since the outbreak of Cholera in October last year.
