Alarm as Cholera outbreak in Kisumu kills three

“At JOOTRH, they identified multiple pathogens associated with the outbreak, including aeromonas spp, shigella spp,e coli, salmonella spp and vibrio cholera. All these infections suggest contamination of water and hygiene concerns. Unfortunately, three deaths have been reported in the community and posthumous testing confirmed vibrio cholera infection,” said the CEC.

According to Dr Ganda, the county government has activated emergency operations center efforts across the county, with surveillance across all six sub-counties enhanced to ensure early detection and response to new cases.

“Rapid diagnostic test kits have been distributed to facilitate timely pathogen identification, and a detailed contingency plan is in place to guide response efforts and resource allocation. Further risk communication initiatives are ongoing to educate residents on preventive measures and symptoms,” said Dr Ganda.

He also noted that public hygiene officers are ensuring compliance with proper water, sanitation and hygiene practices across the county.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health has asked members of the public to take precautions to prevent further spread of the disease by boiling or treating water before use, washing hands thoroughly with soap and clean water.

“Also, the public should ensure proper sanitation by using latrines and avoiding open defecation, wash fruits and vegetables with clean water before consumption and seek medical attention immediately if experiencing symptoms such as diarrhea, dehydration and vomiting,” he added.

Nyando Deputy County Commissioner Elijah Maranga led a multi-sectoral team in a public sensitization forum on Wednesday as part of the heightened efforts to curb cholera in the flood-prone area.