Confinements in refugee camps and public schools have been cited as one of the major causative factors for rising cases of cholera outbreaks in North Eastern counties.
According to report findings from the Ministry of Health, the widespread cholera cases reported in this year alone, Garissa and Mandera were the most affected counties.
In the latest report, the ministry issued that more than 27 people have died from cholera alone since January to date.
In Garissa County, the disease outbreak was hastened by housing crisis at refugee camps and water shortages in local communities.
The report further shows that a massive 2,562 cases of cholera have been recorded in Garissa, Vihiga, Tana River and Wajir counties within the six months under study.
Health CS Dr Cleopa Mailu now urges county governments to make effort in monitoring disease outbreaks and report them in good time for heightened expert surveillance and prevention from further spread.
"We devise a system that alerts us whenever there is an impending disease outbreak because we shall take responsibility for whatever happens in the country. When people do not report, then we as a ministry will be unable to focus our resources effectively," he said.
The CS, however, revealed that cholera treatment centers have been installed in the affected counties and medical supplies dispatched for speedy interventions in case of future outbreaks.