Cholera outbreak in Mavoko claims four while 32 attended to
By People.Reporter, March 13, 2023
Four people have died from cholera infection in Mavoko sub county while 32 suspected cases are being attended to following an outbreak in the region.
Machakos County Health Executive Dr Daniel Yumbya said eight of the cases are admitted at Athi-River Level 4 Hospital where one of them is in critical condition.
“Beginning March 6, 2023 todate Mavoko Sub-county attended to a total of 32 suspected cases of which 12 samples were collected for laboratory confirmation. Out of these cases 4 deaths have occurred with three cases availing themselves for treatment in critical condition,” Yumbya said.
The incident is the latest in waves of cholera outbreaks that have hit Mavoko since October 2022.
During the month of December 2022 to mid February, no new cases had been reported and because twice the number of incubation period had elapsed it was assumed to be controlled.
From the February 23, Kajiado County reported to have treated nine suspected cases from Mavoko of which four cases were confirmed positive via rapid test kits.
The county subsequently informed Mavoko Sub-county which activated rapid response team to carry out contact tracing of the confirmed cases and continuous community engagement and social mobilisation targeting community members to ensure they upheld good hygiene practices, said Yumbya said yesterday in the media brief report.
The cases reported within Mlolongo, Jua Kali,Kwa Mang’eli, Kanaani, KMC and Sokoni areas of Athi River are associated with consumption of food at local eateries.
“The mentioned areas have low sanitation environment and are being targeted to identify what could be the source of the infection,” Daniel Yumbya said.
Among the response activities carried out include; delivery 1600 water treatment tabs to be given to the communities in the identified areas and 45 kilos of powder chlorine to carry out disinfection in all public toilets and shared facilities.
Sensitisation of the community on cholera through barazas and by use of public address system, contact tracing and water sampling of public water sources is also being enforced.