Cholera is looming in Kiambu county, threatening the lives of residents. Just to prove this, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has warned its students against a possible cholera outbreak.
Through an internal memo dated November 29, JKUAT chief medical officer R W Mumo said that several cases have been reported in Juja, a town in Kiambu.
The university which is located along Thika road has a population of more than 5,000 students.
Students have been urged to maintain cleanliness and report any suspected cases.
“We expect strict hand washing before handling food. The students should drink only boiled water,” Mumo said in the memo on Friday.
The school has also told the students to avoid hawked food such as cut fries (chips), salads and juices.
When the bacteria that cause cholera enter the body, some of it can be killed by stomach acid. However, some of the bacteria travel to the small intestine, causing the loss of large amounts of salt and water in the form of watery diarrhea.
The resulting dehydration, when severe, can cause death. Cholera can also cause complications such as low blood sugar, low potassium, and kidney failure.
But how can JKUAT prevent the disease?
It is impossible to prevent cholera from being introduced into an area – but spread of the disease within an area can be prevented through early detection confirmation of cases, followed by appropriate response.
Because cholera can be an acute public health problem – with the potential to cause many deaths, to spread quickly and eventually internationally, and to seriously affect travel and trade – a well coordinated, timely, and effective response to outbreaks is paramount.
Response activities should always be followed by the planning and implementation of preparedness activities that will allow future cholera outbreaks to be dealt with more effectively.
A strong cholera preparedness plan and programme is the best preparation for outbreaks in countries at risk of cholera, whether or not they have yet been affected, or countries in which seasonal recurrence of the disease may be expected.