Kenya Health Ministry confirms 61 Cholera cases in six counties

Kenya’s Ministry of Health has confirmed a cholera outbreak after the detection of 61 cases in six counties.Of the 61 cases, 13 are hospitalised, eight were discharged while 40 were treated as outpatients.

According to the Acting Director General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth, Kiambu County reported 31 cases followed by Nairobi 17, and Murang’a County one case.

Kajiado and Nakuru Counties confirmed two cases each while Uasin Gishu has eight.

According to the health ministry, the outbreak in the East African country ,originated from “a wedding party held in Kiambu County”, about 10 kilometres (six miles) north of the Kenyan capital.

The Health Ministry has since commenced response activities including field investigations, enhanced surveillance, laboratory testing, case management, risk communication, community engagement and environment sanitation to help manage the outbreak.

Dr Amoth added that the Ministry was also putting all counties on high alert, pointing out that the ongoing drought may worsen the outbreak.

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection causing sometimes fatal dehydration. It is generally contracted from food or water contaminated with vibrio cholera bacteria.