MANDERA (Halbeeg News) – At least eight cases of cholera have been reported in Mandera County in the last 10 days, with children below the age of 10 years being the most affected.
According to the cholera situation report by Kenya’s Ministry of Health, Mandera is the leading one with eight cases, followed by Kenyan capital, Nairobi with two cases.
The two cases bring to a total of 11, 872 reported in Kenya since October last year.
“In the past 10 days, 10 cases were reported nationwide in the following two counties (active outbreak): Mandera (8), and Nairobi (2),” reads a section of Kenya’s Health Ministry’s cholera situation report dated July 25, 2023.
Cholera is typically spread via infected water supplies and induces acute diarrhoea leading to severe dehydration, frequently resulting in death.
The risk of death is greatest among people with compromised immune systems, such as malnourished children or those living with HIV.
However, even among healthy adults, cholera can be fatal within a few hours of infection.
The according to health experts the use of oral cholera vaccines (OCV) in combination with other proven interventions such as improving access to safe water and sanitation and improving hygiene will help in eliminating the risk of recurrent cholera outbreaks faced by the country.
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