Ninety five police officers are admitted at several hospitals with cholera, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has confirmed, noting 88 of these cases are in the city.
The officers were among 340 who provided security during last week’s presidential petition hearings at the Supreme Court. Sinai Hospital in Rongai, Kajiado county, had admitted 57 officers by 8pm on Sunday, Sonko said, adding they tested positive for the bacterial disease.
In a statement on Monday, Sonko said 26 cases were confirmed at Nairobi Women’s Hospital and 12 at Kenyatta National Hospital.
He noted teams from the national and county governments were responding to the outbreak and that investigations will ascertain the report and confirm the source of infection.
“It has been reported that all patients are stable and that the situation is under control,” he said. “I appeal to all people…do not panic as adequate controls have been put in place to prevent the spread of the disease.”
Sonko further asked all Nairobi residents to observe high standards of hygiene and ensure their food is clean and properly cooked. The officers are said to have contracted the disease at Multi Media University where they had been booked. The first case was reported on Saturday when some some complained of stomach disorders, diarrhoea and vomiting.
Vice chancellor Paul Mbatia has since then dismissed the claims saying the officers might have contracted the disease elsewhere. Mbatia said the officers were only served supper and breakfast at the premises and got other meals from other establishments.
“If the officers had contracted the disease here, cases would be rampant as there are other guests we served the same meal. We suspect they might have contracted the disease else where.”
He added the officers would have left today had it not been for the outbreak.
“We are hoping that all the experts will move in after the officers leave to thoroughly investigate and give us a clean bill of health.”
This is one of several cases of cholera that have been reported in several parts of the county in the last few months.