Cholera is an epidemic disease and if not treated leads to death. Narok county residents have been called to be on the look out after four more cases of cholera have been reported throwing the health personnel and other stakeholders into a panic mood.
Dr. Francis Kiio, County Director of Health (MOH), speaking during a multi-sectorial stakeholders’ meeting to combat cholera at Narok Referral Hospital says two cases were reported in Mosiro area in Narok East along the Narok/Kajiado common border while two other cases have been reported at Ewaso-Nyiro in Narok South. This has happens just as the county health personnel and stakeholders thought the pandemic had been contained after the single case was reported for about a week.
Two people have died from the outbreak and 168 others treated in various health facilities and discharged but are still under watch, while the other four are still hospitalized. Dr. Francis has directed Medical personnel in Narok County to be on high alert until when the pandemic will be fully contained.
An outbreak of cholera had been reported in the county about a month ago and Dr. Francis says then, the outbreak had been sporadic in the three sub counties of Narok North, South and East. He says the outbreak was believed to have begun between January 2 and 9, this year and affected Morintat and Nkasuria villages in Narok South Sub County and Oloototo villages in Narok North Sub County. It is believed to have been caused by subsequent interaction between the residents of the two mentioned areas and those of the neighboring Kajiado County where an outbreak had also been declared.
Health personnel have increased surveillance and have conducted active case search to trace all those who had got into contact with any of the 160 patients who have been treated of cholera. The house and environment where each patient was living and various places in the hospital have been disinfected to avoid spread of the disease.
Cholera is caused by eating food or drinking contaminated water. Symptoms of the disease include; diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps. Residents are advised to observe high level hygiene by washing their hands after visiting a washroom, before preparing and eating food.