- The Health executive said most of the cases were located in Mlolongo, Jua Kali, Kwa Mang'eli, Kanaani, Califonia, KMC, Site, Njoguini, Ngimu, Slota and Sokoni estates.
- Yumbya said the deaths were registered between March 6 and March 10, 2023.
Four people have died of suspected Cholera cases in Machakos County.
Machakos Health executive Daniel Yumbya said the four were confirmed to have died of the disease in Mlolongo and Athi River wards, Mavoko sub-county.
The Health executive said most of the cases were located in Mlolongo, Jua Kali, Kwa Mang'eli, Kanaani, Califonia, KMC, Site, Njoguini, Ngimu, Slota and Sokoni estates.
Yumbya said the deaths were registered between March 6 and March 10, 2023.
"From March 6 to date, Mavoko sub-county has attended to a total of 32 suspected cases of which 12 samples were collected for laboratory confirmation. Out of these cases, four deaths have occurred with three cases availing themselves for treatment in critical conditions," Yumbya said.
Yumbya addressed the press at Mavoko Level 4 Hospital in Athi River on Friday.
"One of these three critical cases was confirmed positive for Cholera and the other two have pending results," he said.
He said some patients were availing themselves to hospital facilities in very critical conditions.
"Some of those who died to live alone in slums. They were brought to the hospital in critical conditions," Yumbya said.
Yumbya urged the residents to help them in containing the disease by checking on their neighbours and reporting such cases to relevant authorities for prompt action.
"We have two cases pending results. The above-mentioned estates are where we have noted sporadic cases of Cholera," Yumbya said.
"So far, in cases that have turned positive, the majority have been discharged. Only eight cases are admitted here at Athi River Level 4 hospital with three in critical condition," he said.
He said the Mavoko sub-county had experienced a Cholera outbreak since 2022, the first case having been reported on October 10, 2022, in the Kware area within the sub-county.
"Mitigation measures were deployed and the situation was contained up to mid-February 2023. No new cases had been reported.
However, on February 23, Kajiado County reported having treated nine suspected cases of which four were confirmed positive.
"The county subsequently activated the Rapid Response team and out of that they went to the field to encourage the community to practice hygienic practices including hand washing," Yumbya said.
The Machakos County Government suspended hawking of food in the Athi River ward effective March 11 at 6.00 am following the outbreak.
"We have provided enough drugs in Mavoko and across all health facilities. This is going to be our command centre to fight Cholera in Mavoko to ensure containment measures are there," Yumbya said.
He said the food hawking suspension would be reviewed next Tuesday after assessing the situation in the Athi River ward.
Yumbya said four ambulances were on standby at Athi River Level 4 to transport severe cases to Machakos Level 5 Hospital where need be.
He said the devolved government had also supplied Chlorine to ensure that residents drink clean and safe water.
Yumbya said there were no reported cases of Cholera in other parts of the county.
He said they had delivered 1400 water treatment taps to families in these affected areas alongside 45 kgs of Chlorine to carry out disinfection.
Other measures he said were public sensitization through chief barazas, contact tracing and water sampling in public water sources. Six sources had been sampled.
They also distributed bar soap to needy residents in the affected areas.
He said Governor Wavinya Ndeti will from today allocate ten water boozers to supply residents of the affected areas with free clean water on a daily basis until the disease is contained.
"We will camp in Mavoko until Cholera ends," Yumbya said.
Mavoko MP Patrick Makau said his office will be sending 15 water boozers to supply the residents with clean water from Nairobi until the disease is contained.