A patient suffering from cholera, The first cholera outbreak reported in 2017 was in Tana River County. The outbreak started on 10 October 2016 and was controlled by April 2017. (Photo/Capitalfm news)
Four children aged between 13 and16 who are admitted to Dadaab sub-county hospital; Garissa County suffering from acute watery diarrhoea have tested positively to cholera.
According to the County disease surveillance coordinator Hassan Elmi, the four were rushed to the Dadaab after symptoms of diarrhoea persisted and turned watery and depicting cholera.
He said samples collected from the victims were taken to Hagdera centre for disease control and the results were also confirmed that four are suffering from cholera.
The coordinator said the health workers in Hagarbul have been alerted and are now taking precautionary measures to contain the situation.
“This morning we have received results from Hagadera laboratory that the four have tested positive for cholera. Our fears have been confirmed and we shall send additional health workers to Hagarbul to support those on the ground,” Elmi said.
Speaking to journalist Elmi advised the residents to maintain high standards of hygiene by boiling drinking water, washing their hands after visiting the latrine, consuming inspected meat among other measures.
He said following an outbreak of the disease last year in Dadaab, the health department ordered for a stockpile of cholera emergency supplies that are still in the stores.
“We have enough emergency supplies to deal with the disease. We ordered a 10 tonne truck of the supplies last year. We believe it will be enough to deal with the Hagarbul cases,” Elmi said.
Garissa County health Chief Mohammed Gure lauded the few health workers who managed to fight disease despite many challenges including minimal resources and the fact that they were being surrounded by refugee camps with poor sanitation due the big population.
He said the county government was putting in place measure to address the challenges of medical facilities and increase the number of staff the area was in need.