Fears over dysentery outbreak as 190 Ngiya Girls students fall ill

Over 190 students from Ngiya Girls High School in Siaya County were on Monday evening taken ill with fears that it could be a dysentery outbreak.

According to Siaya County Director of Health Mr. Kennedy Orwenjo, the first case was reported at around 5pm.

“She had fever and diarrhoea which was blood stained and was given medication. After that we have had 192 cases that were presented to the school dispensary,” he said.

The director said they were able to contain the outbreak at the school level and out of the 192 who complained of stomachache as well as fever and diarrhoea, they took 12 samples.

He revealed that four of the samples were blood stained which is an indication of dysentery but they will know for sure when a culture is done which will take 3 days.

“After this period is when we will know whether we are dealing with basilic or amoebic dysentery,” Mr. Orwenjo said.

One student has been transferred to the Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu upon request from the parents.