According to a recent report from the Ministry of Health, a total of 26 children under the age of five have perished in the nation due to the raging cholera since the first case was recorded on October 8, 2022.
According to the most recent cholera status report, which was published yesterday, during a previous outbreak in the nation, medical professionals treated a cholera patient inside a special ward at the Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi.
Since October 8 of last year, there have been 99 confirmed fatalities; 76 men and 23 women have perished as a result of the illness.
An estimated 531 new confirmed and suspected cases have been reported in just nine days, showing the country’s cholera scenario is escalating into a crisis.
The ministry reports that as of March 7, 2023, there have been 6, 391 confirmed instances of cholera since the first outbreak was reported.
“The cases are from Mandera (278), Nairobi (97), Wajir (63), Kajiado (50), Garissa (27), Machakos (5), Kiambu (5), and West Pokot (3),” the new report indicates. In the last nine days, three people have succumbed bringing the cumulative deaths reported since the beginning of the outbreak to 99. The ministry puts the case fatality rate (CFR) at 1.5 percent.
According to the report, both age groups below 2 years and 41-50, registered 21 deaths each an estimated 21.2 percent. In this report, it’s clear that if you happen to be in 17 sub-counties of the eight most affected counties, you are at risk of cholera infection.
Outbreak Cumulatively the 17 sub counties have reported new cases since the outbreak of the disease in the country as follows; Garissa (2, 112), Mandera (1, 039) Nairobi (887), Tana River (744), Wajir (538), Kiambu (393), and Machakos (281). Others include; Kajiado (101), Meru (85), Nyeri (55), Homa Bay (51), Murang’a (40), Kitui (27), West Pokot (16), Nakuru (11), and Uasin Gishu (8).
Bomet has the lowest number of reported cholera cases at 3. “Garissa and Tana River counties have the highest attack rates of cholera at 251 and 235.5 per 100, 000 population, respectively, compared to the national – affected counties – attack rate 31.6/100, 000,” the report shows.
