Health minister orders Jacaranda and San Valencia to close shop
Kenya's Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Cleopa Mailu on Wednesday announced that Jacaranda and San Valencia hotels in Nairobi have been closed down indefinitely in the wake of cholera outbreak.
The two hotels are said to have offered catering services at events where participants were later hospitalised after developing cholera-related symptoms.
The minister further said 12 counties have been affected by the outbreak with Nairobi and Garissa, in the northeast, being the worst hit.
Four deaths
He said 67 people have been admitted to the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), 12 others in health facilities in the city with four deaths reported so far.
Dr Mailu said all water bowsers and vendors would be inspected and water sources checked to prevent the spread of cholera.
The CS was speaking after visiting cholera patients at the top referral hospital, KNH. He was accompanied by Health Principal Secretary Julius Korir and the Director of Medical Services Jackson Kioko.
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A trade event
On July 14, top government officers, including National Treasury CS Henry Rotich, his Trade colleague Adan Mohammed and Trade Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo were treated for cholera-related symptoms.
That was after they ate food at a trade event at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
In a move to contain the spread of the disease, the Ministry of Health cancelled medical certificates of all food handlers as it directed county health units to inspect all eateries in 21 days.
A task force to stop the spread of the disease was also appointed.