Kenya: Cholera Outbreak - Oct 2022

On 19 October 2022, the Kenya Ministry of Health issued a communication to all County Directors of Health on a multi-county cholera outbreak following the isolation of Vibrio cholerae-01 Ogawa serotype at The National Public Health Microbiology Laboratory. The first cases were detected following a wedding festival that was held in Limuru sub-county, Kiambu County on Saturday of 8 October 2022. Additional cases have been linked to another function that was help on 29 October 2022 along Kiambu road. The date of onset for the first cases is 8 October 2022. The outbreak is currently active in seven counties and been controlled in Nakuru and Uasin Gishu Counties. As of 13 November 2022, a total of 568 cases with 281 confirmed (48 cases by culture and 233 by rapid diagnostic test) and 15 deaths (CFR = 2.6%), have been reported so far. The highest caseload has been registered in Machakos county with 215 cases (37.8%), followed by Nairobi County with 155 cases (27.3%), and Kiambu County with 86 cases (15.1%). Among the 15 deaths reported, nine (60.0%) are reported from Nairobi County and Garissa, while Kiambu and Machakos Counties have reported each two deaths so far. In the past one week (week 45), a total of 326 new cases with seven new deaths were reported. (WHO, 25 Nov 2022)

Since the confirmation of the first case on 8 October 2022, the cumulative number of suspected cases as of 14 January 2023, was 3 970 cases including 70 deaths (CFR 1.8%). (WHO, 20 Jan 2023)

The outbreak has affected 16 counties : Nairobi, Kiambu, Nakuru, UasinGishu, Kajiado, Murang’a, Machakos, Garissa, Meru, Nyeri, Wajir, Tana River, Kitui, Homa Bay, Mandera and West Pokot counties. West Pokot is the new county reporting new cases. A total of 4 845 cases with 167 confirmed by culture and 85 deaths (CFR 1.8 %) have been reported. In the last epi week 192 cases with two deaths were reported. WHO, 11 March 2023