Cholera claims four lives as 226 cases reported

By Linah Benyawa

At least four people have died of cholera and 226 infection cases reported in Msambweni District.

Coast Provincial Director of Public Health and Sanitation Anisa Omar said 16 specimens of the 226 cases have been taken, but only six are confirmed cholera cases.

"So far, four people have died from cholera and not eight as reported by a section of the media. We have also identified 226 new cases of what we suspect to be cholera, but only 16 have turned out positive," said Dr Omar.

She said two people died at home and so it could not be known if they died from cholera.

"The only cases we can confirm are the two who died at the district hospital," she said yesterday.

She was speaking at Msambweni District Hospital when she visited with the District Health Committee.

She said the first case was reported on February 27, and was allegedly spread by a woman from Pemba in Tanzania.

The woman is believed to have visited her relatives.

Omar also said more than 17 schools in the district have been closed temporarily. "We have closed the schools because we have had cases of children with diarrhoea infection," she said.

She said the spread could have also been caused by poor health standards. "The latrine coverage here is less than 30 per cent and the only source of water in some villages is a water pan, which is contaminated and can be among the cause of the cholera outbreak," she added.

Source Of Water

A nurse at Vitsangaraweni, Ms Pauline Wamburi, said eight suspected cholera patients have been admitted.

A resident, Mr Tyao Leli, who was drawing water from the water pan, said: "We use this water for washing and even cooking though sometimes we use disinfectants," said Leli.

At the same time, Vitsangaraweni residents received free clean water from the Ministry of Water.

Director of Water Resources Kenya John Nyaoro said the ministry has set aside Sh7 billion to ensure the province gets clean water.