Cholera case load hits over 11,000 as Ministry launches vaccination campaign

Health Cabinet Secretary Susan. [Denis Kibuchi, Standard]

The cholera case load in the country now stands at 11,181, with one hundred and ninety-six (196 fatalities recorded so far across twenty-six counties, the Ministry of Health has revealed.

In an effort to address the escalating situation, the Health Ministry announced on Wednesday, August 2, it had initiated a countrywide vaccination campaign.

The campaign is set to begin on Thursday, August 3, and will specifically target eight counties most affected by the outbreak including Homa Bay, Kajiado, Marsabit, Nairobi (Kamukunji and Embakasi Central areas), Wajir, Mandera, Machakos, and Garissa.

"In response to the ongoing cholera outbreak that has affected the nation since October last year, the Ministry of Health has taken decisive action by initiating a comprehensive Oral Cholera Vaccination (OCV) campaign," the ministry said in a statement.

2.2 million people above the age of one were vaccinated against the disease in the first round of vaccination conducted in February 2023 in Nairobi, Garissa, Tana River, and Wajir counties.

Building on the progress made during the previous vaccination campaign, the International Coordinating Group (ICG) has provided the Health Ministry with 1,533,199 doses of the Oral Cholera Vaccine for the upcoming countrywide campaign.

"To address the outbreak more effectively, the Ministry has strengthened coordination activities, water, sanitation, and hygiene efforts, risk communication networks, community engagement, patient case management, and laboratory confirmation of cases.," MoH said.

Mary Muriuki, the Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, stressed the urgency of intervention as the cholera situation continues to escalate.

She empahsised the importance of additional preventive and promotive interventions to complement the vaccination efforts in curbing the spread of cholera.