Malaria outbreak kills 15, including 2 children in Marsabit

Fifteen people have died of malaria in Dukana, Illeret and North Horr wards, Marsabit County following an outbreak in the last one week.

According to Marsabit County director of preventive health services Dr Boru Okutu, 136 patients tested positive of Malaria.

Two deaths were reported in Illeret while 13 others succumbed in Dukana and North Horr.

The illness is characterised by fever, headache, backache, jaundice, bloody diarrhoea and vomiting. Most affected areas are in villages far from health facilities.

CRITICAL

"The affected area is vast and most people live up to 70 kilometers from medical centers. Hence they get to the dispensaries in critical condition while some die on arrival," said county public health director Adano Kochi.

Mr Kochi said the region has been greatly affected by the nationwide nurses' strike since most of the health facilities are run by nurses.

The health facilities in the affected areas also lack anti-malarial drugs.

"The governor has contacted the ministry of health for support in handling the crisis. The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority and the Kenya Red Cross Society are set to deliver medical supplies to handle the emergency," said Mr Kochi.

Kenya Red Cross regional coordinator Talaso Chucha said a report given by the County Steering Group showed that 15 people among them three children below the age of five had died.

TEST KITS

Ms Chucha Red Cross would dispatch 60 nurses to the affected region to help contain the disease.

"The county steering group has appealed for malaria drugs, rapid test kits and mosquito nets in the bid to counter the current situation. We are working hard to see to it that the situation is controlled," said Ms Chucha.

Speaking after meeting ward representatives from the affected area, Marsabit governor Mohamud Ali said health officers would be deployed in the area on Friday.