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)

A total of 15 new cholera cases were reported in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to 8 960 as of 16 April 2023. The counties reporting the new cases are Mandera (14), and Marsabit (1). Zero new death was reported in the last 24 hours. The cumulative deaths since the beginning of the outbreak are 142 (CFR 1.6%). The index case was reported on 5 October 2022. A total of 4 673 (52%) of the cumulative cases are males, while 4 287 (48%) are females. Most cases, 3 114 (35%) are in the age group of less than 10 years old. (WHO, 27 April 2023)

The cholera outbreak has affected 23 counties namely: Nairobi, Kiambu, Nakuru, UasinGishu, Kajiado, Murang’a, Machakos, Garissa, Meru, Nyeri, Wajir, Tana River, Kitui, Homa Bay, Mandera, West Pokot, Bomet, Samburu, Marsabit, Kirinyaga, Kisumu, Siaya and Isiolo counties. A total of 10 297 cases, with 464 confirmed by culture, and 164) deaths (CFR 1.6 %) have been reported. (WHO, 21 May 2023)

The outbreak of cholera in Kenya continues to recede with a sustained decline in the weekly number of new cases. In epidemiological week 28 (week ending 16 July 2023), a total of 26 new cases with zero deaths were reported from five (5) counties across the country. This is a 33% decrease in the number of new cases compared to the preceding week when 39 cases were reported from six counties. Most of the new cases were reported from Nairobi County (n=12) followed by Mandera County (n=8). Three other counties (Busia, Mombasa, and Wajir) reported two cases each. No new deaths have been reported in the last three weeks. Cumulatively, 11 861 cases with 194 deaths (case fatality ratio 1.6%) have been reported from 26 out of Kenya’s 47 counties since the onset of the outbreak in epidemiological week 40 of 2022 (week ending 09 October 2022). There have been two main waves of the cholera outbreak, first peaking in week 50 of 2022 when 511 cases were reported. A second peak was reported in week 09 of 2023, with 558 cases. Deaths peaked in week 10 of 2023, with 11 deaths reported. Since then, the weekly number of cases and deaths continue to decline gradually. (WHO, 16 Jul 2023)

There were 23 cases in week 34 reported from Kenya, a 28% decrease when compared to 32 cases in week 33. There were two deaths (100% increase) in week 34 compared to one death in week 33. As of 27 August 2023, a cumulative total of 12 061 cases has been reported since the onset of the outbreak with 200 deaths (CFR=1.7%). (WHO, 27 Aug 2023)

A cholera outbreak has been ongoing in Kenya since 26 October 2022. As of 10 September 2023, a total of 12 102 cases, with 577 confirmed by culture, and 202 deaths (CFR 1.7%) have been reported in 27 affected Counties. (WHO, 24 Sep 2023)

As of 29 October 2023, a cumulative total of 12 123 cases have been reported since the onset of the outbreak with 202 deaths (CFR=1.7%). There was no new reported case in week 44 compared to one new case in week 43. There have also been no new deaths reported in weeks 43 and 44. The first wave that began in Oct of 2022 was controlled with last case reported on 19 September 2023. (WHO, 20 Nov 2023)