One dead, seven hospitalised after cholera outbreak in Isiolo
Isiolo Level Four Hospital. Seven patients suffering from cholera have been admitted to the hospital. PHOTO | VIVIAN JEBET | NATION MEDIA GROUP
One person has died and seven others have been admitted to Isiolo Level Four Hospital following a cholera outbreak.
A child below the age of four died on Tuesday evening and seven members of one family are now secluded in a ward to contain the outbreak.
Isiolo Medical Superintendent Abdikadir Guyo confirmed on Thursday that samples sent to the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) tested positive for cholera.
"The patients had diarrhoea and were vomiting," he said.
He said the family had travelled to Kisumu for three weeks and were on their way back to Isiolo when the child started vomiting and died before reaching the hospital.
Dr Guyo said the family said they ate fish before leaving Kisumu.
Isiolo Medical Superintendent Abdikadir Guyo at a press briefing on July 29, 2015. One person has died and seven others were admitted to hospital after a cholera outbreak in Isiolo. PHOTO | VIVIAN JEBET | NATION MEDIA GROUP.
RESPONDING WELL
He also confirmed that the other family members who were secluded in hospital were in a stable condition, adding that the county surveillance team had responded well.
“I have dispatched medics who are on the ground to contain the disease,” said Dr Guyo.
He added that they had also identified a camp to treat patients and a team was set to visit schools, mosques and churches to provide information on ways to prevent cholera.
Only one area in Isiolo Town had been reported to have been hit by the disease and the situation was under control, Dr Guyo said.
He urged residents to observe proper hygiene and report to the hospitals people showing cholera symptoms.
