Narok on high alert after Cholera claims five lives
Houseflies (Musca domestica), known carriers of diseases such as anthrax, cholera, salmonella, tuberculosis, typhoid, and polio, feed on dried rice porridge (rice congee) stuck to the body of a pressure cooker during hot summer conditions
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County authorities have shut down eateries and banned the sale of food in open markets as part of emergency measures to stem further infections.
Water samples from affected areas have been sent to government chemists in Kisumu for analysis.
The latest fatality is a woman who sold vegetables at a local market. At Trans Mara West Hospital, doctors and nurses are working around the clock as dozens of new patients continue to arrive, many suffering from severe dehydration and shock.
Inside the wards, the situation is dire — men, women, and children are receiving urgent treatment, battling the potentially deadly infection.
“Niliharisha vibaya kwangu ndio nikakimbizwa hapa, hata ilikuwa inatoka hadi damu,” recounted Joseph Ongeri, a resident of Majengo and one of the survivors receiving treatment.
Another patient, Alex Lemayian, 38, described his ordeal:
“Nilitoka kazi, nikakula nyumbani, halafu nikaanza kuumwa tumbo usiku wa manane. Nikaendelea kuharisha sana hadi nikalazimika kuja hospitali.”
Medical personnel have reported that most patients exhibit classic cholera symptoms.
“Patients presented with very watery, greenish diarrhea and severe vomiting. Some of them arrived in shock,” said Martha Mwita, a medical officer in Kilgoris West.
A rapid response team comprising officials from the Narok County Government and the national Ministry of Health has been deployed to assess and contain the situation.
“We are working round the clock to ensure no more lives are lost,” affirmed Lucy Kashu, Narok County Director of Health.
According to county reports, the outbreak has affected four wards: Shankoe, Lolgorian, Alopiikidongoi, and Kilgoris Central.
As part of heightened containment measures, the health department has:
Banned the sale of cooked food in open markets and hotels,
Suspended all public gatherings involving feasting, and
Directed that burials in affected areas be conducted within 24 hours to minimize risk of further transmission.
Local markets in Kilgoris town, identified as possible hotspots for the spread, have been temporarily closed as disinfection efforts continue.
As health workers intensify their response, authorities are urging residents to maintain strict hygiene practices, treat drinking water, and report any suspected cases promptly.
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