Mysterious illness in Butere and Mukumu schools is typhoid, Ministry says

The Ministry of Health now says that a mysterious disease that has affected Butere Boys and Mukumu Girls Secondary Schools in Kakamega County killing four people could be typhoid.

A statement by the acting Director General of Health Dr Patrick Amoth says that the ministry conducted tests on food, water and human tissue to make the conclusion.

He says that the Ministry tested the samples for Ebola Virus, West Nile Virus, Marburg Virus, Leptospirosis and Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever, Dengue Fever and Rift Valley Fever.

He adds that further tests are being conducted to ascertain whether the outbreak could have another cause.

He says that even though the two schools have been closed, the community that lives near them should adopt the healthy living practice to prevent the further spread of the disease.

According to Amoth, the outbreak began on March 1 and has so far affected 627 people, killing four. Nineteen people are undergoing treatment in seven hospitals within the County.

Khasoko Boys High School in Bumula, Bungoma County sent home its form one, two and three students after one of its students who was receiving treatment at the Bungoma Referral Hospital died.