Cholera cases surge despite simple and effective containment measures

Residents mount a campaign poster against cholera in Rongo, Migori town. [File, Standard] The outbreak of cholera in Migori, Kisumu and Nairobi counties, which has led to the death of six people, with Kisumu recording 43 cases and three deaths, Migori, 69 cases, two death, Nairobi, 11 cases and one death. More than 123 people have been infected, with Migori County experiencing the highest number of cases. This has prompted medical experts to advise on measures that must be undertaken to contain the situation. Nairobi Public Health Officer Raphael Muli confirmed the outbreak in the city and said the situation is under control. Meanwhile, as cholera becomes epidemic with sporadic cases, effective measures need to be put in place to contain the spread. Cases continue to rise despite the fact that it is easy and simple to control, and contain the disease. Cholera is caused by bacterial infections and thrives mainly in human beings. This waterborne disease is highly contagious. One can also get cholera by eating food or drinking water contaminated with faeces. "The outbreak in the country requires strict personal hygiene, boiling water, keeping clean environment and using pit latrines for those who stay in informal settlements and rural areas where there are no flushing toilets. Cooking food properly and avoiding eating in unhygienic food joints," says Jude Onunga, a general medical practitioner. Dr Onunga says that health status of citizens is paramount and the government must ensure that cholera outbreak in the three counties is contained and prevented from spreading to neighbouring counties and the infected persons must be treated promptly. A survey conducted in 2023 by health inspectors from the Ministry of Health, showed that about 40 per cent of beds in private and public hospitals are occupied by patients suffering from air and water borne diseases. Most of those affected people are slum and beach dwellers, people in refugee camps, those in prisons, and people who stay in populated settlements. Even health care workers are also at risk of infections because they handle victims. "It is that effective public health interventions, such as management of the environment and adequate use of vaccines are implemented to contain the spread amongst the vulnerable population," says Moses Mwangi, a vaccine specialist. Dr Mwangi says new evidence has emerged on use of vaccines as a public health tool to prevent the disease, particularly in crisis situations. Kenya has been in a crisis situation from cholera outbreaks, during the rainy season. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the first demonstration project using oral cholera vaccines in an endemic setting was performed in Port Beira, Mozambique in 2000. The demonstration aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the vaccines in a population exposed to recurrent cholera outbreaks. The results were encouraging in a case-controlled study conducted among vaccinated people. "Mass immunisation campaigns using vaccines are essential to protect people against the disease", advises Mwangi. He adds that if the disease is uncontrolled, it can result in more deaths. "It is therefore a challenge to health professionals and other stakeholders who should advice the government to make it mandatory for the risk groups such as food handlers, slums and beach dwellers, health care workers, refugee populations, people in schools, colleges, prisons, crowded settlements as well as fishermen to get vaccinated, he notes. Therefore, personnel from the Kenya Expanded Programme for Immunisation should ensure people are immunised, in the three affected counties and others at risk of the disease. Experts say there is an urgent need to rollout immunisation campaigns and other preventive measures and mechanisms against the disease, and medical checkups to facilitate early detection. The public is advised to undertake home-based as well as pharmacological preventive measures to ensure the disease does not continue to cause havoc in the country.

Cholera cases surge despite simple and effective containment measures

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