Students Dead in Suspected Outbreak at Mukumu Girls, School Closed
Mukumu Girls High School in Kakamega County was closed indefinitely on April 3 after two students died from suspected food and water poisoning.
According to reports, 25 of the 246 students hospitalized in the previous week were still being treated at the Kakamega County General Hospital and the St. Elizabeth Mukumu Mission Hospital.
The students displayed symptoms of vomiting, diarrhoea, and vertigo.
Their samples were collected and sent to the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) for analysis to determine the outbreak’s cause.
Josphat Kaswira, the chairman of Mukumu Girls’ board of management, recently stated that corrective measures would be taken to prevent future occurrences.
He added that 400 of the institution’s 2,108 students had not yet returned to school after the midterm break.
Politicians called for immediate action to stop the outbreak from rapidly spreading.
Woman having painful stomachache.
“Twenty new cases of students with the same symptoms have been admitted to the hospital. This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed.”
During a tour of the school on Friday, March 31, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale expressed sadness that more than 200 girls were affected and called for the attention of all leaders in the county. He proposed that the principal be assisted by the Ministry of Education in closing the school because the lives of students were in danger.
However, Shinyalu MP Frederick Ikana argued that Khalwale’s proposal to close the school would delay the start of the school year.
According to the MP, it was stated that there are procedures that need to be followed before the school can be closed, and the responsibility for this lies with the Ministry of Education.
“I appeal for calm and ask people to stop speculating about the situation. We wish those undergoing treatment a quick recovery,” he stated.
Students Dead in Suspected Outbreak at Mukumu Girls, School Closed
