Cholera Outbreak: MoH Confirms 97 Cases, 6 Deaths in 3 Counties

At least 6 people have been killed following a cholera outbreak that is currently affecting Migori, Kisumu and Nairobi counties.

According to the Ministry of Health,  97 cases and six deaths have been reported as of April 6, 2025,

In Migori, 53 cases and one death have been recorded, affecting Suna East, Suna West, Kuria East, and Kuria West sub-counties, while Kisumu has reported 32 cases and four deaths, primarily in Nyando and Muhuroni sub-counties.

In Nairobi, 12 cases and one death have been reported, spread across Kasarani, Embakasi East, Embakasi Central, Roysambu, Kibra, and Dagoretti South.

Health CS Adan Duale has reassured the public that the country is adequately prepared to manage and contain the outbreak.

“We are on high alert in all counties, with heightened surveillance and increased community awareness to ensure a timely response to any alerts,” he said in a statement issued Tuesday.

To control the spread, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with county governments, has intensified surveillance and deployed rapid response teams.

Efforts include health worker training on case management, water sanitation, hygiene, and risk communication, alongside public awareness campaigns through media and community health promoters as well as distribution of information materials.

Additionally, health officials are conducting testing of suspected cases and offering prophylactic treatment to close contacts of confirmed cases.

The Ministry has urged the public to observe personal hygiene through frequent hand washing with soap and clean water after using the toilet and before eating.

Individuals are also advised to drink only clean, boiled, or chlorinated water, avoid untreated water from rivers and lakes, and properly dispose of waste to prevent contamination.

Cholera, a waterborne disease caused by the ‘Vibrio cholera’ bacteria, spreads through the consumption of contaminated food or water.

Symptoms, which may appear within 2 to 5 days of infection, include sudden severe diarrhea, vomiting, muscle cramps, and dehydration.