Kenya has recorded an outbreak of five disease since the beginning on the year up to now, a new report shows.
Cholera, Chikungunya, and Rift Valley Fever are among those that affected a lot of Kenyans.
For instance, 4,954 people were diagnosed with cholera of which 75 died from the disease within the last five months.
Some of the counties affected are Mombasa, Garissa, Siaya, Tharaka Nithi, Meru, Kirinyaga, Busia, Tana River, Turkana, Murang'a, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Nairobi, Nakuru, Isiolo, Machakos, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kiambu, and Kilifi.
Director of medical services Jackson Kioko noted out of the 19 counties where the outbreak was reported, nine of them were able to contain the disease through various interventions.
"We were able to boost disease surveillance in these counties by providing technical and logistical support to health workers. We also distributed testing kits and testing of referred samples to KEMRI and CDC laboratories," Kioko said.
Kioko also said that they have imposed a ban on the sale of meat that has not been inspected in Isiolo county.
This comes days after five people including two veterinary professionals died after contracting the disease.
Kioko said that 60 samples have already been collected
from animals by the veterinary
department and delivered to Kabete laboratory for further testing.
"We are in the process of sensitising
the community especially
those who work in butcheries
on how the disease is transmitted. " Kioko said.
He added that four isolation centres have been set up to facilitate those who have been diagnosed with the disease in the
affected areas.
At the coastal region, 1508 cases of Chikungunya were reported in Lamu, Mombasa, and Kilifi counties. Out of this only 38 were laboratory confirmed.
Measles outbreak was also reported Wajir and Mandera counties 142 cases were reported in both counties.
Kioko said that the outbreak has been contained through active case search, case management and enhanced outreach vaccination services.
He added that they will conduct two polio drives from June 30 to July 4, and from July 28 to August 1.
This follows the reports of polio type 2 in a sewer system in Eastleigh.
About 800,000 children below the age of five were among the first to benefit from the drive that was carried out in Nairobi in March
The medical services boss called on the public to
be on high alert and observe personal hygiene among them hand-washing practices to avoid getting the diseases.
He added that any suspected case of the above disease should be reported to the nearest health facility for assessment and management.