Cholera and Chikungunya Virus Outbreak in Mandera

There is an outbreak of cholera in Mandera and there is panic among residents of the county as the few medical facilities available feel the heat.

At the moment, eleven people have died from the disease and hundreds others have been admitted to hospitals. More than 500 people have been admitted with more than 20 being retained to prevent the spread. Concerns, however, are that more cases have not yet been reported.

The County Government is calling for assistance from the National Government as the situation seems to be moving out of hand. Hospital beds seem to be full and medical supplies are inadequate.

As the medical officials in the county continue with the fight against cholera, another viral disease has broken out in the same county sending more chills down the spines of many.

Chikungunya, a viral disease that has no cure and distributed through mosquito bites has already had hundreds of people in Mandera infected.

According to World Health Organization, 540 people are infected and admitted in hospitals as a result of the Chikungunya.

Chikungunya has the same symptoms as those of malaria making it difficult for the locals to differentiate between the two.

It is not yet known if the virus might spread to other neighboring counties and if the effects are the same as those of the infamous Zika virus that shook the world.

The health sector was devolved under the new constitution and the docket now lies under the county governments.

Since the devaluation of the health sector, issues of doctors and nurses going on strike has been the order of the day.

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Article by Juma Fred.