Health Ministers from the African Union have committed to monitoring the movement of people across borders to limit the international spread of cholera.
This will however be done without interfering with travel and trade.
In a communiqué from the health, water and sanitation and environment high-level meeting on cholera held in Malawi between March 9 and 10, the ministers further committed to sharing technical expertise and other resources for eliminating cholera.
They have raised concerns about the ongoing multi-country outbreaks of cholera and other water-borne diseases and the continued risk for cross-border transmission.
“We are aware that without concerted efforts now, milestones and targets in the global and regional strategies and frameworks to eliminate cholera epidemics in Africa by 2030 may be missed,” the communiqué reads.
This comes at a time when several African countries including Kenya are battling to contain an active cholera outbreak.
The latest data from the Ministry of Health shows the number of Kenyans who have succumbed to the ongoing cholera outbreak in the country currently stands at 99.
The data shows 76 of those who have died are men while 23 are women with the case fatality rate standing at 1.5.
The total number of cholera cases reported since the first case was recorded last year in October stands at 6,391 as of March 7.
This is an increase of 531 new cases since February with Mandera recording the highest number of new cases at 278, followed by Nairobi at 97, Wajir at 63 and Kajiado 50.
“Garissa and Tana River counties have the highest attack rates of cholera at 251 and 235.5 per 100,000 population respectively, compared to the national attack rate in affected counties of 31.6 per 100,000,” the situational report says.
Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with Vibrio cholerae bacteria.
People can get sick when they swallow food or water contaminated with cholera bacteria. The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but can sometimes be severe and life-threatening.
