Five die of cholera, 400 undergoing treatment in Northern Kenya

By Adow Jubat

Five people are reported to have died from cholera and more than 400 others are undergoing treatment in hospital in Laisamis, Marsabit, Kenya.

A herder who returned from Samburu District on May 12, was the first to be diagnosed with the disease.

In a telephone interview, local District Medical Officer of Health David Kasanga said those who died include four children and an adult from Laisamis and Merille locations.

"By Sunday evening, five people, among them four children, have died from the disease and more than 400 others are being treated at various health centres," he said

Dr Kasanga said the infections had not reduced despite Government and NGO efforts to contain it.

"Although we have contained the number of those dying from the disease, the figures of admission cases have stagnated at about 400. It is as if we are admitting an equal number of patients to those who are discharged daily," he said.

He said it was possible the disease was transmitted to Laisamis from neighbouring Samburu District by herdsmen in search of pasture and water for their livestock.

No charges

The officer has denied claims by some patients that they were unable to access treatment from the Catholic Mission Hospital in Laisamis town because due to high charges on drugs. He said the Government was providing medicine and patients were receiving treatment without charge.

"There was only a Sh80 charge on patients for meals although the ministry is addressing that," Kasanga said.