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Cholera claims 50 in Kenya: official

Xinhua, May 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Kenyan Ministry of Health on Tuesday announced a raft of interventions to halt spread of Cholera that has claimed 50 lives since January when the first case was reported.

Cabinet Secretary for Health James Macharia said the government will intensify surveillance, public awareness and provision of water treatment chemicals to halt cholera infections.

"In response to the recent cholera outbreak, we have stepped up surveillance, distribution of medical supplies alongside education materials in the counties," Macharia said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

According to the ministry of health, 10 Kenyan counties had recorded 2,520 cases of cholera by Monday,

Macharia noted that a prolonged dry spell, poor hygienic practices and inadequate health facilities worsened the spread of Cholera.

"Communities obtained water from contaminated sources during the dry spell earlier this year thus exposing them to pathogens that cause cholera. Illegal water connections have worsened the current outbreak in Nairobi slums," Macharia said.

The cholera outbreak was initially reported in Western Kenya but later spread to Nairobi, central and the coastal regions.

Macharia noted a spike in cholera infections and deaths was recorded in the month of April following heavy down pour and flooding.

"Heavy flooding experienced in the last one month resulted to contamination of the environment. Poor hygienic practices like open defecation and hawking of food worsened the outbreak," said Macharia.

The ministry of health is coordinating an inter agency committee to monitor and advise on appropriate response to the cholera outbreak.

Macharia revealed that public health specialists have been deployed to cholera affected counties to boost response to the epidemic.

"Contacts of individuals with cholera symptoms are being tracked by a surveillance team and provided with preemptive treatment to minimize further transmission," Macharia said.

He revealed a national stakeholder's conference will be held on May 21 to discuss long-term strategies to contain the latest cholera outbreak. Endi