Cholera cases surge in Kenya amidst flooding crisis

Flooding in Kenya’s Tana River County has escalated the threat of cholera, with 44 reported cases highlighting concerns about the spread of water-borne diseases.

“Forty-four cholera cases have been reported in Tana River County, one of the most flood-affected areas

The Government of Kenya has mounted a multi-sectoral emergency response, led by the Kenya Disaster Emergency Operations Centre in the country’s capital, Nairobi, “ Dr Pius Mutuku, medical epidemiologist in the Ministry of Health said.

Though Tana River County is among the hardest hit by the deluge, local media reports that the impact of the flooding extends beyond Tana River, affecting over a quarter-million individuals across Kenya, with a staggering 238 reported deaths.

The WHO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the government’s emergency response efforts, underscoring the importance of swift containment to prevent the escalation of disease outbreaks.

To bolster these efforts, the WHO has procured cholera, inter-agency, and pneumonia kits for distribution to key counties, with the capacity to treat approximately 10,000 individuals.