Numerous cholera cases have emerged in flood-stricken Kenya, prompting concern from the United Nations amidst weeks of relentless rain and inundation.
The World Health Organization (WHO) disclosed that 44 cases of cholera have surfaced in Tana River County, situated in eastern Kenya, one of the regions most severely impacted by widespread flooding.
Stephen Jackson, the UN’s resident coordinator in Kenya, expressed confidence in the collaborative efforts of governmental, national, and international entities to contain the outbreak. However, he acknowledged the gravity of the situation, emphasizing cholera’s potential threat.
Cholera, a swiftly spreading acute intestinal infection transmitted through contaminated food and water, typically manifests in severe symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and muscle cramps, posing particular risks to young children.
Abdourahmane Diallo, WHO’s representative in Kenya, reiterated the organization’s commitment to supporting health emergency responses and emphasized the necessity for swift containment to prevent further escalation.
The toll of the flooding in Kenya has been severe, with government reports citing 238 fatalities and over 200,000 individuals displaced. The broader East African region, highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change, has witnessed over 400 casualties as a result of the unusually heavy seasonal rains, compounded by the El Niño weather phenomenon.
