By NATION CORRESPONDENT
Posted Friday, September 28 2012 at 23:30
In Summary
- The deaths occurred after the disease, initially reported in Somalia, spread to villages along the border in Wajir and Garissa counties.
- The villages where Kenyans died are Amuma, Haameey, Hulugho and Damajaley.
Thirty-five people have died while 117 others are admitted to hospital following a cholera outbreak in villages on the Kenya-Somalia border.
An emergency response team comprising officials from of the Ministry of Health and the Kenya Red Cross said 15 Kenyans had lost their lives.
The deaths occurred after the disease, initially reported in Somalia, spread to villages along the border in Wajir and Garissa counties.
Speaking to the Nation, the Red Cross North-Eastern regional health coordinator, Mr Langat Daniel, who led a team to Hamey village, said the number of deaths reported within two weeks in the region and across the border is 35.
The villages where Kenyans died are Amuma, Haameey, Hulugho and Damajaley.
“We have admitted 117 patients at our cholera treatment centres where they are out of danger. However, the limitation of our mandate makes it difficult to reach the epicentre of the disease that is spreading fast towards our border.
We are likely to receive more cases,” said Mr Daniel.
“Some of the affected Kenyans are pastoralists who moved into Somalia in search of water and pasture,” he added.
He said the concerted efforts of the Red Cross and the Ministry of Health were helping to contain the spread of the communicable disease.
Mr Mohamed Dubow, who is in charge of the Red Cross public health team, said they had trained 60 community health workers in the affected areas to educate the public on hygiene and disease prevention.
“We have set up centres at Hameey, Damaajaaleey and Amuuma,” said Mr Dubow.