Garissa staring at fresh cholera outbreak as five hospitalized

Five people have been admitted at the Garissa County Referral Hospital following a fresh outbreak of cholera in Boka area of Tana River.

According to the hospital manager, Hassan Abdullahi, four of the patients are in stable condition while the fifth is in critical condition.

Hassan said that Rabid Diagnosis Test (RBT)and stool culture had been carried out on the five patients with all of them turning positive.

“The facility has set aside a cholera treatment center and infection control measures put in place. We are fully aware how contagious cholera is. Therefore, relatives and other visitors are restricted from the ward,” noted Hassan.

He pointed out the manner in which patients were being transported using taxis was dangerous and was a contributing factor to the spread of the disease.

“Patients should be quarantined from their villages or taken to the nearest health center for treatment to cholera spread.”

Area Public Health Officer, Mohamed Hassan, urged Garissa residents to be cautious and observe high standards of hygiene.

This comes barely one month after two people admitted at the same facility tested positive of cholera.

Written by Treeza Awuor