PH
Six cross boundary cases of cholera have been noted in Vihiga County from the neighbouring Nandi and Kisumu counties.
County director of health services Quido Ahinduka said they had contained the cases that were reported on March 16 and 17 at Likindu health centre in Tambua ward, Hamisi constituency.
“We got four cases of people who were visiting the health facility while they were vomiting and having cases of diarrhoea. The cases were referred to Vihiga Hospital in Mbale, which is the county’s referral unit. Two cases were brought directly to the hospital,” Ahinduka said.
He added, “The fact that one of the persons has been fully confirmed to have contracted cholera, we treat it as an outbreak. We have contained the cases and set up rapid response teams to deal with any other emerging cases.”
He said they have taken samples and sent them to Kisumu for further tests at Kemri.
The director said amongst immediate measures put in place to contain the widespread of the disease is banning eating in funerals and hawking cooked foods.
Ahinduka said so far those who have been treated include two twins aged 11 and a 15 year-old children together with three other adults.
He noted that the health centre that has been receiving the cases is situated 50 metres from the borders of both Nandi and Kisumu counties.
“One of those affected was a student at Kapker primary school in Kisumu County and a team has set up camp in the school to treat any other emerging cases from there. We do not want more people to cross over,” he said.
He noted that an isolation ward has been opened at Likindu to deal with any other cases reported so that the patients will not be referred to the Vihiga hospital that is far.
The county director called on residents to watch out their health by practicing proper hygiene to avert cases spilling over to the county.
He asked them to be on alert and report any cases of people who have symptoms related to cholera.
He further noted he was following up with his counterparts from Nandi and Kisumu counties to look for ways of containing the cases.
