Twenty six children succumb as cholera fatalities increase

A total of 26 children under the age of five have succumbed to the raging cholera in the country since the first case was reported on October 8, 2022, the Ministry of Health has said in a new report.

The latest cholera situation report released yesterday shows that out of the 99 total fatalities reported since October 8 last year, 76 males have died from the disease compared with 23 females.

To demonstrate the cholera situation in the country is progressing into a crisis, an estimated 531 new confirmed and suspected cases have been reported in just nine days since the last update on February 28. This, according to the ministry, brings the total number of cases to 6, 391 as of March 7, 2023 since the first cholera outbreak was announced.

“The cases are from Mandera (278), Nairobi (97), Wajir (63), Kajiado (50), Garissa (27), Machakos (5), Kiambu (5), and West Pokot (3),” the new report indicates.

In the last nine days, three people have succumbed bringing the cumulative deaths reported since the beginning of the outbreak to 99. The ministry puts the case fatality rate (CFR) at 1.5 percent.

According to the report, both age groups below 2 years and 41-50, registered 21 deaths each an estimated 21.2 percent.

In this report, it’s clear that if you happen to be in 17 sub-counties of the eight most affected counties, you are at risk of cholera infection.

Outbreak

Cumulatively the 17 sub counties have reported new cases since the outbreak of the disease in the country as follows; Garissa (2, 112), Mandera (1, 039) Nairobi (887), Tana River (744), Wajir (538), Kiambu (393), and Machakos (281).

Others include;  Kajiado (101), Meru (85), Nyeri (55), Homa Bay (51), Murang’a (40), Kitui (27), West Pokot (16), Nakuru (11), and Uasin Gishu (8). Bomet has the lowest number of reported cholera cases at 3.

“Garissa and Tana River counties have the highest attack rates of cholera at 251 and 235.5 per 100, 000 population, respectively, compared to the national - affected counties - attack rate 31.6/100, 000,” the report shows.

The first case of cholera was reported on October 8, 2022, following a wedding in Kiambu county. Cumulatively, 6,391 confirmed cases and 99 deaths Case Fatality rate (CFR of 1.54 per cent) have been line-listed.

Since then, a total of 3, 255 about 51 percent of the cumulative cases are males, while 3, 136 - 49 percent - are females. Most cases, 2, 364, about 37 percent, are in the age group of 0-10 years.

Cumulative figures

 “Of the 99 cumulative deaths were 76, about 76.8 percent are males and 23 are females be8ing estimated at 23.2 percent.

A total of 1, 800 - 28 percent - of the cumulative 6, 391, cholera cases reported so far, are children under 5 years old. “Of these, 1, 176 - 18.4 percent - are less than 2 years old, 633 about 53.8 percent males and 543 - 46.2 percent – females,” the report further indicates.

Of the 6, 391 cumulative cases, 2, 112 about 33 percent are from Garissa County followed by Mandera County with 1, 039 - 16.3 percent- while Bomet County has recorded the lowest number of cases, 3 at 0.1 percent.

In the meantime, while taking the leadership and coordination roles, the Ministry is conducting surveillance and laboratory services, case management and infection prevention and control; risk communication and community engagement among others. It is also promoting water, sanitation and hygiene under the WaSH programme, and also giving oral cholera vaccination.

It’s however faced with inadequate capacity of healthcare workers, late submission of case line lists from the counties in question.

“We are also facing competing activities i.e; response to drought in high risk counties, and inadequate resources to facilitate critical response pillars limiting response capacity in detecting, investigating, and follow-up of cases,” the report shows.

The Ministry has also mounted training programmes for healthcare workers in cholera affected counties and those that are at risk, on comprehensive cholera case management; sensitising sub national health management teams on the need to develop county cholera preparedness and response plans. It has encouraged counties to enforce public health measures among other recommendations.