Why it’s important to have Cholera Vaccine

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Cholera kills within four hours, residents of informal settlements are at a higher risk because of poor sanitation.

But the best way of preventing cholera is through vaccinations which Kenya has had for the past decade.

The oral vaccine, under the brand name Shanchol, was declared safe and effective by the World Health Organisation.

The global health body says in a report that the vaccine is prequalified and licensed in over 60 countries.

Experts say the vaccine should be used in conjunction with other prevention and control strategies in areas where the disease is endemic and should be considered in areas at risk for outbreaks.

The oral cholera vaccine has demonstrated efficacy in a large-scale clinical trial among 70,000 people in Kolkata, India.

Results indicate that protection conferred by two doses was 65 percent five years after vaccination, the longest protection on record among currently available cholera vaccines.

Some 76 people died of cholera in 20 counties from January 1 to November 29 last year, according to WHO Disease Outbreak Report dated December 11, 2017.

The number of people who tested positive for cholera between January and June 2018 are nearly half (279) of those recorded in 2017 (596).

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In addition, the number of suspected cholera cases for 2018 were (4,954) higher than those recorded in 2017 (4,059).

Some of the counties affected are Garissa, Turkana, West Pokot, Isiolo, Kiambu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nairobi, Machakos, Tana River and Kilifi.

Few days ago, Nairobi County’s Health department issued Cholera Outbreak alert and today ironically staffs from one of the City hospital has succumb to Cholera while others are fighting for their lives.



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