Homa Bay cholera cases climb to 36 as steps to curb spread mount

The number of people who have contracted cholera has reached 36 since Homa Bay government declared the outbreak of the disease.

The county department of Health said the disease is still concentrated in Suba South constituency because all the 36 patients hail from the area.

Majority of them come from Sindo town market and Wadiang’a main beach in Kaksingri West ward while others are from Gwassi North ward within the constituency.

Sindo town market is leading with 18 patients followed by Wadiang’a, which has 12 patients.

Villages in Gwassi North ward which have recorded the cases are Nyagwethe which has three while Kaloki, Nyamosi and Mang’ang’a have one each.

They were admitted at Suba Subcounty hospital in Sindo for treatment. Thirty two people are still getting treatment after four people were discharged.  

Homa Bay Health executive Roselyn Omollo said all the 36 confirmed cases are local transmission, adding that the the patients still remaining in hospital are in stable condition.

“Suspected cases are epidemiologically linked to the confirmed cases. They were found within the same locality or had visited the same places,” Omollo said.

In her statement to the media, she said the department has taken necessary measures to isolate and manage any patients who will seek services at any of the health facilities in the county.

 Medical officers have also collected samples from suspected cases and have been taken for tests at the Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Omollo said a cholera outbreak alert has been issued from her office to all subcounty facilities outlining necessary steps to be taken when suspected cases are detected.

The Health department has also reactivated the subcounty rapid response teams.

This includes reaching out to subcounty outbreak management teams, which have been activated and are on standby to respond to any cases.

Omollo said her department is also making follow-ups in households, where confirmed cases have been reported to ensure correct containment measures are put in place. 

The public, especially residents living in beaches, are advised to seek medical treatment if they experience any watery diarrhoea and vomiting.

“Community sensitisation is ongoing through community health volunteers. All our health facilities are on high alert for case management,” she added.

Homa Bay beach management units chairman Edward Oremo asked fishermen to maintain high levels of hygiene in their places of work.

Most reported cases are from beaches along the shores of Lake Victoria.  Some of the patients affected are fisherfolk.

Oremo directed all fishermen to ensure they clean beaches every morning.

 “Areas where fish is sold should also be clean. This will ensure the disease is eradicated,” Oremo said.