Turkana: The Department of Health and Sanitation held talks with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), UNICEF, and the 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 Sub County.
According to Kenya News Agency, during the meeting, all the strategic response interventions and areas of emergency preparedness and response plan such as surveillance, contact tracing, and more across the county were discussed. Chairing the meeting, the Deputy Director for Medical Services, Dr. Bonventure Ameyo, emphasized the need for strengthening county and sub-county rapid response activities clustered around coordination and surveillance, especially in identified hotspots and points of entry.
Dr. Ameyo highlighted the importance of enhancing awareness creation and risk communication, commodity prepositioning and management, case management, laboratory and logistical management, water sanitation, and hygiene/infection prevention.
The initial cholera outbreak case was reported on May 18, 2025, in Kalobeyei, with the patient 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.
From the nine initial cases, three were from Natukobenyo and six from Amusait. Six out of nine patients have been discharged, while 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 all 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).