Anxiety has gripped three villages in South Mugirango following the outbreak of an unidentified disease that has left over 200 residents sick. The affected individuals, including children, are experiencing severe symptoms such as diarrhea with bloody stool, fever, and extreme headaches. The situation has persisted for the last two weeks, raising concerns among locals and authorities.
A multi-agency government team, working in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, has been deployed to investigate the source of the illness. Meanwhile, residents have been advised to seek medical assistance at nearby health facilities as officials await results from the government chemist to determine the cause of the outbreak.
Veronica Nyomenda, a resident of Amarondo village, was among those rushing their children to hospital on Saturday morning. One of her three children had fallen sick, but due to financial constraints, she had to return home without securing treatment. This scenario is not unique, as many families in the affected villages are struggling to afford proper healthcare.
A few meters away, another family is in distress as seven members have been struck by the illness. The mother, the latest to fall sick, is unable to walk without assistance. Further into the village, yet another household battles the same condition, relying on antibiotics issued at a nearby Level Two hospital, though the pain and discomfort persist.
The situation is equally dire at a local orphanage, where over 15 children were rushed to the hospital after exhibiting similar symptoms. Medical teams have been moving from home to home, trying to assess the extent of the outbreak and provide preliminary assistance.
Health officials have urged residents to boil all drinking water and maintain high hygiene standards as a precautionary measure. Samples have been collected and sent for laboratory analysis to establish the nature of the illness and its possible sources.
Since the onset of the outbreak, an unknown number of patients have sought treatment at Tabaka Mission Hospital, Nyatike Level Two Hospital, Prina Hospital, and Royal Hospital in Rongo, among other private facilities. Authorities continue to monitor the situation, and residents remain on high alert as they await further updates from health officials.
