NAIROBI, April 15 (NNN-KBC) — Three students and a teacher at Sacred Heart Mukumu Girls School in Kakamega died as a result of contaminated water.
The Ministry of Health Friday said preliminary findings had revealed E. coli and Salmonella typhi, a bacterium that is responsible for typhoid fever as the causes of the illness initially suspected to be cholera.
“The Ministry wishes to inform the general public that this disease is likely to be a mixture of E. coli and Salmonella typhi which usually occurs if water sources are contaminated with these micro-organisms” Ag. Director General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth said.
A comprehensive investigation is however underway even as the top health official ruled out aflatoxin.
Several learning institutions including, Mukumu Girls and Butere Boys in Kamamega and the latest being Mukuuni Boys High School in Chuka, Tharaka Nithi County have been closed after students were taken ill.
“The Ministry of Health has taken several water, food, and human tissue samples, from which preliminary laboratory investigations undertaken have revealed Enterotoxigenic E. coli and Salmonella typhi as the causes of the illness,” he said
“Further laboratory investigations carried out on the grains and pulses for aflatoxin have turned negative for aflatoxicosis- a dangerous fungal infection from poorly stored cereal grains” he added.
In addition, laboratory tests for Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs) including Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), Marburg Virus Disease (MVD), Leptospirosis and CrimeanCongo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), Dengue Fever, Rift Valley Fever (RVF) and West Nile Virus have all turned negative.
The DG said the Ministry is conducting further analysis of the samples to ascertain any other potential cause whose findings he assured would be made known.
As of 14th April 2023, 627 patients have been taken ill; while 19 students are currently admitted to seven health facilities across the country, but in stable condition.
Juliana Mujema, a teacher and boarding mistress at Sacred Heart Mukumu Girls, passed away Wednesday from multiple organ failures while receiving treatment at Lifecare Speciality Hospital in Eldoret town
“We at the Ministry of Health send our heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones,” Dr Amoth said.
The contagious disease that presents symptoms similar to those of Cholera namely fever, abdominal pain/cramps, vomiting and diarrhea was first reported on March 1.
Members of the public have been advised to maintain high standards of personal hygiene.
“The diseases have high potential of person to person spread especially in congregate settings where people live and eat in close proximity” Dr Amoth cautions.
Other public health measures include washing hands with soap and running water, treating or boiling all water for drinking and cooking, properly using toilets to safely dispose of feces, cooking food and eating while still hot.
While urging for vigilance, the ministry which has shared emergency numbers, (0729 47 14 14 or 0732 35 35 35 or 719) is asking anyone experiencing fever, abdominal pains/cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting to seek immediate treatment at the nearest health facility. — NNN-KBC
