Cholera Outbreak Claims Six Lives in Kisumu, Migori, and Nairobi

Cholera Outbreak Claims Six Lives in Kisumu, Migori, and Nairobi

Six people have died following a cholera outbreak that has gripped Migori, Kisumu, and Nairobi counties, the Ministry of Health confirmed in a statement released on Tuesday.

Health Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale reported that Kisumu leads with four deaths, while Migori and Nairobi have each recorded one fatality. As of April 6, 2025, a total of 97 cholera cases have been documented across the three counties, marking a worrying Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 6.2%.

“The Ministry, in collaboration with County Governments, is undertaking active case search, contact tracing, and rapid response deployment at both national and county levels,” Duale stated.

County Breakdown of Cases

Migori County has recorded the highest number of infections, with 53 cases reported in the sub-counties of Suna East and West, and Kuria East and West.
Kisumu County has documented 32 cases, mainly from Nyando and Muhoroni.
Nairobi County has reported 12 cases, affecting the areas of Kasarani, Embakasi East, Embakasi Central, Roysambu, Kibra, and Dagoretti South.

Response and Public Health Measures

As part of its emergency response, the Ministry of Health is conducting water hygiene campaigns, food safety assessments, and household water treatment initiatives. Field investigations have revealed the consumption of untreated water in many of the affected areas.

“The ministry, in collaboration with counties, is undertaking testing of suspected cases, treatment of confirmed cases, and prophylaxis for close contacts,” Duale added.

Kenyans have been urged to observe critical hygiene practices to curb the spread of the disease. These include:

Frequent handwashing with clean water and soap
Avoiding open defecation
Refraining from drinking untreated water from rivers, lakes, or other open sources

What is Cholera?

Cholera is a highly infectious waterborne disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It spreads primarily through the consumption of contaminated food or water.

Symptoms of cholera include:

Sudden onset of severe watery diarrhea
Vomiting
Muscle cramps
Rapid dehydration

“Cholera can cause rapid dehydration and death. At the first signs of diarrhea, start taking Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) and seek immediate medical care from the nearest health facility,” warned CS Duale.

The Ministry of Health continues to monitor the situation and has committed to deploying further resources to mitigate the outbreak and prevent future cases.

In other news:Doctors in Kakamega Threaten Strike as Health Crisis Brews

Cholera Outbreak Claims Six Lives in Kisumu, Migori, and Nairobi