Govt sets record straight on Tana River Cholera outbreak

By GAKENYI MWANGI

The government has confirmed that two people and not four, died after a Cholera outbreak in Tana River County.

Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki, in a press release sent to newsrooms also refuted claims that 84 people had been confirmed to have contracted the deadly disease saying the number was much lower.

“It is three of the 201 cases recorded that are laboratory confirmed and not 84 as reported in a section of the media,” read the statement.

The government said the other two people reported to have died of cholera could not be conclusively verified as having been caused by the disease.

Several media outlets reported that eight people had died while 129 others were hospitalised following the outbreak in the area.

Mrs. Kariuki says the ministry has dispatched a national multi-disciplinary team to the county to help in implementing response measures and building technical capacity of the county health staff through on job-trainings.

“We wish to assure Kenyans that we will continue to monitor and coordinate response efforts with the aim of bringing outbreaks to a quick end. The public is advised to be on high alert,” said the Health CS.