MSF decries rapid spread of cholera outbreak in Kenya

International medical charity, Medecins Sans Frontières (MSF), on Tuesday expressed concern over the rapid spread of cholera in Kenya that has claimed 72 lives.

"In the past five months, the outbreak has spread to 10 of the country's 47 counties and has claimed 72 lives," MSF said in a statement issued in Nairobi, adding that it has set up 4 cholera units in Nairobi and supporting 47 facilities in 8 counties to battle the cholera epidemic in the country since January.

Since the end of 2014, Kenya has been experiencing cholera in various counties after a cholera free spell in the past three years. The cholera outbreak was initially reported in western Kenya but later spread to Nairobi, central and the coastal regions.

William Hennequin, MSF head of Mission in Kenya, said although cholera is a treatable disease, they were concerned that the outbreak could worsen and last much longer due to the high population mobility and the congested living situation in most affected parts in the capital.

The health ministry in February announced a raft of measures to contain the disease that had then claimed eight lives in three counties. Director of Medical Services in the Ministry of Health Nicholas Muraguri said then the ministry has deployed technical personnel, medicine and water treatment chemicals.

However, MSF said since cholera is such a highly contagious disease, as people move to and from the affected counties they are transferring the infection from one locality to the next.

"In Nairobi, although the number of cases fluctuates every other day, MSF teams at the cholera treatment centres inside the Ministry of Health facilities are seeing an average of 200 patients a week," Hennequin said. Endi