Neighbouring counties cross swords over disease outbreak

Isiolo County wants neighbouring Meru to put up emergency treatment centres to check the spread of cholera. But Meru has denied that there is a cholera outbreak in the region.

In a statement on Tuesday, Isiolo Deputy Governor Abdi Ibrahim Issa said the county’s Level Four hospital had admitted 18 patients with cholera symptoms from Kandebene in neighbouring Tigania West, about 10km east of Isiolo town.

Dr Issa said samples from four of the patients sent to the National Public Health Laboratory at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi tested positive for cholera.

"We successfully treated all the patients from our neighbouring county of Meru and ferried them home in our ambulances."

Issa denied that any deaths occurred at the facility as reported in sections of the press, and said Meru should takes measures to treat cholera cases.

Adequately monitored

But Meru Deputy Governor Titus Ntuchiu, while insisting that there was no cholera in the region, said the situation in areas cited by Isiolo was adequately monitored and that there was sufficient capacity in the region to deal with any cases that may arise.

Mr Ntuchiu said Isiolo should not complain about handling patients from Meru because the measure was reciprocal.

“We are saying our counterparts in Isiolo have delved into an unfortunate area because patients do not have boundaries. Meru facilities are presently taking care of people from Marsabit, Samburu and Isiolo with no qualms, but our principal treatment centre remains Mwerokanga Dispensary in Tigania West,” said Ntuchiu

He said specialised treatment for suspected cases of cholera was available at the Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital.