City cholera alert as families return

By Peter Orengo

Health experts are warning of a cholera outbreak in Nairobi and Mombasa, as city dwellers return from the Easter break upcountry.

It is feared that the epidemic, that has claimed 55 lives of the nearly 2,000 cases reported countrywide, could also spread to Central Province that has been free of the disease so far, according to the Kenya Red Cross.

The outbreak is traced to a few cases reported in Nyanza Province last December. But it has spread to eight other districts in the region and spilled over to other provinces.

So far, Nairobi and Mombasa appear safe although the Easter festivities, for which thousands of city residents travelled to their rural homes, will almost certainly bring cholera to the cities’ doorstep. Red Cross Communications Manager Titus Mung’ou said in a statement: "Given the population movement and constant interaction of communities from different provinces, there is a huge risk of the outbreak spreading to Nairobi, Central and Coast provinces where cases of cholera have not been reported this year."

Mr Mung’ou said the outbreak requires intensive education, social mobilisation for action and procurement and distribution of supplies.

"There are also knowledge gaps in the community on the transmission cycle of cholera, which is compounded by lack of safe water, effective sanitation systems and practices on safe disposal of faecal matter," Mung’ou said.

Latest statistics from the Ministry of Health, as contained in the Kenya Red Cross Bulletin Number 3, indicate that there have been 1,931 cases reported so far, with 55 casualties.

In Western Province, the outbreak has been reported in four districts: Bungoma East, Kakamega Central, Busia and Butere, with 173 reported cases.

The most recent outbreak was in Bungoma East where ten people have died and a couple of other cases treated at Bungoma District Hospital, Bokoli Sub-District Hospital, Lugulu Mission Hospital and Webuye District Hospital.

In Rift Valley Province, the first outbreak was reported last month in Nandi South at Chemase, Kaptumo and Nandi Hills Town.

The second outbreak was at the Nakuru Prison where ten cases were reported and one casualty.

The Red Cross advises that appropriate measures be taken to minimise deaths should the outbreak strike in major cities.

Take precautions

Public Health Minister Beth Mugo said Kenyans should not to be alarmed, but take precautions and observe hygiene at all times.

Speaking to The Standard on the telephone yesterday, she said: "There is no cholera outbreak in Nairobi or Mombasa for now. But all those who have gone to areas reported to have cholera outbreaks should go for checkup and treatment."

Mrs Mugo added: "If you suspect you have symptoms, visit a nearby hospital for free treatment."

So far, the minister said, Moyale and Isiolo are the only areas that pose a challenge, adding that the epidemic had been controlled in other parts of the country.

Public Health Director Shahnaz Shariff called on Kenyans to take the Health ministry and Unicef warnings seriously. "People should use toilets, wash hands and drink safe water so that we can stop the spread of cholera in our major towns," Dr Sharrif said when contacted on the telephone.

The Red Cross alert comes at a time when the political leadership is embroiled in wrangles, and the country faces acute food shortage, high commodity prices and now disease outbreaks.

In his statement, Mung’ou said diarrhea-related outbreaks are linked to poverty, ignorance, low latrine coverage, traditional beliefs and negligence by the political class.

"The genesis of the problem is linked to the peak of political crisis following the General Election, where 16 districts reported outbreaks of cholera," Mung’ou explained.

The outbreaks, he added, have since spread from Nyanza to four other provinces with the potential to spread to more areas depending on population movement.

The first outbreak in Isiolo was reported on March 23 at Kipsing and has since spread to three other centres: Isiolo town and Daaba and Enmert villages.

As of last week, 907 cases were reported, with 16 deaths confirmed. The outbreak has not been controlled, as new cases are reported.

In Moyale, 46 cases were reported last month and three deaths confirmed.

The Red Cross has also called for interventions in public health and advocacy, clinical/case management, water and sanitation, food hygiene and safety.

"The reported outbreaks can easily be managed with improvement of water and sanitation systems," Mung’ou said, adding that volunteer teams are spearheading chlorination of shallow wells and springs used as water sources by affected communities and also disinfection of latrines in Nyanza.

 

 

Read all about: Kenya Red Cross Public Health Minister Beth Mugo

 

 

---