Stakeholders convene to tackle cholera outbreak in Turkana

The Department of Health and Sanitation held talks with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), UNICEF, and World Health Organization (WHO), among other partners in the health sector to discuss rapid response updates on the recently reported cholera outbreak in Kalobeyei Settlement in Turkana West Subcounty.

During the meeting, all strategic response interventions and areas of the emergency preparedness and response plan, such as surveillance, contact tracing, and others, across the county were discussed.

 Chairing the meeting, the Deputy Director for Medical Services, Bonventure Ameyo, emphasised the need to strengthen county and subcounty rapid response activities, with a focus on coordination and surveillance, particularly in identified hotspots and points of entry.

“We need to strengthen awareness creation and risk communication, commodity prepositioning and management, case management, laboratory and logistical management, water sanitation and hygiene/infection prevention,” he said.

 The first Cholera outbreak case was reported on May 18, 2025, in Kalobeyei, and the patient was admitted at Amusai Health Facility. Out of a few stool samples collected, three were found positive. For quality assurance, more samples were collected and five tested positive.

Out of the nine initial cases, three were from Natukobenyo and six from Amusait. Six out of nine patients have been discharged, and three are still receiving treatment.

 Meanwhile, there have been four new cases reported, and the patients are receiving treatment. So far, a total of seven cases have been reported out of the 16 samples collected.

As of Wednesday, there has been one case in Kakuma 1, two cases in Kakuma 2, one case in Kakuma 3, and four cases in Kalobeyei Settlement (Kalobeyei H7-3, Kalobeyei H11-4, and Kalobeyei H13).