Cholera Outbreak Prompts Emergency Response in Counties

Health authorities in Kenya have ramped up their response following a cholera outbreak in several counties. The Ministry of Health has confirmed 97 cases and six deaths as of early April, with the hardest hit areas being Migori, Kisumu, and Nairobi.
Rapid response teams have been deployed to the affected counties to intensify surveillance, contact tracing, and case management. According to WHO, these teams are working closely with county officials to conduct active case finding, distribute water‑purification tablets, and improve laboratory diagnostics.
County governments have also activated emergency operations. In Kisumu, for example, officials set up an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to coordinate the outbreak response, train healthcare workers, and scale up hygiene promotion efforts. In Kajiado, which borders Narok County (also affected), authorities issued a public health alert, activating local rapid response units and calling for intensified water quality checks.
In Turkana County, a meeting between local health officials and key partners including WHO and UNICEF focused on strengthening case management, surveillance, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions. Authorities emphasized that controlling cholera requires a coordinated multi‑sectoral effort — including cleaning up water sources, educating communities, and ensuring rapid treatment for suspected cases.