The World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised Kenyans to be on high alert as the country faces a looming threat of food-borne diseases due to flooding.
In a statement, WHO confirmed that 44 cholera cases have been reported in Tana River County, one of the most flood-affected counties.
Over 286,000 people have been affected by the floods, with 54, 837 households displaced and 257 deaths reported.
The government, through the Ministry of Health has established an incident management system team for surveillance, case management, laboratory, logistics and risk communication and community engagement to monitor and manage disease outbreaks.
WHO has also procured around 87 cholera, 58 interagency and 20 pneumonia kits that are being distributed to key counties and can treat around 10 000 people.
“WHO will continue to support the health emergency response and remain vigilant for disease outbreaks that can easily spread if not quickly contained. We must be agile and ready to respond, led by government and along with the partners, to bring relief to hundreds and thousands of affected people,” said Dr Abdourahmane Diallo, the WHO representative in Kenya.
Tips to avoid contaminated food diseases;
- Thorough cooking of food
- Proper storage
- Personal hygiene practices
- Safe source of food
- Boiling drinking water
- Use of soap and water to clean hands before and after handling food
- Seek help at nearest health facility
