Nairobi County Government yesterday confirmed the Outbreak of cholera in the city.
The county has activated cholera treatment centres following an outbreak of the disease in the city.
Health executive Bernard Muia and chief officer Sam Ochola yesterday said five cases of the disease have been confirmed.
“Five people are admitted at the Nairobi Hospital and laboratory tests have confirmed that they contracted the disease,” Muia said.
Six treatment centres – Mbagathi, Mama Lucy, Mathare North, Umoja One, Bahati, and Kibera South health centres – have all been activated, he said.
Causes
A bacterium called Vibrio cholerae causes cholera infection. However, the deadly effects of the disease are the result of a potent toxin called CTX that the bacterium produce in the small intestine. CTX binds to the intestinal walls, where it interferes with the normal flow of sodium and chloride. This causes the body to secrete enormous amounts of water, leading to diarrhea and a rapid loss of fluids and salts (electrolytes).
Contaminated water supplies are the main source of cholera infection, although raw shellfish, uncooked fruits and vegetables, and other foods also can harbor V. cholerae.
Signs And Symptoms
- Diarrhea.
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dehydration.
In 2015, the disease killed more than 15 people in the capital. Heavy rainfall linked to the El Nino weather pattern can push up cholera cases in Africa, according to a study by researchers at Johns Hopkins University.
Treatment And Prevention
Although there is a vaccine against cholera, the CDC and World Health Organization don’t normally recommend it, because it may not protect up to half of the people who receive it and it lasts only a few months. However, you can protect yourself and your family by using only water that has been boiled, water that has been chemically disinfected, or bottled water