Mysterious illness breaks out at Kenyan School, over 90 students struggle to walk
Mysterious illness breaks out at Kenyan School, over 90 students struggle to walk
By Jennifer S. Kuwanta
At least 95 students from Eregi Girls Secondary School in Kenya have been hospitalised at various hospitals following an outbreak of a mysterious illness at the school.
The students were admitted to Kakamega County General Hospital (KCGH), Iguhu, and Shibwe sub-county hospitals.
According to NTV Kenya, the students were admitted after they developed a condition that paralysed their limbs.
According to the figures released by the management, 29 students are currently receiving treatment at Iguhu Hospital, 39 at Kakamega Referral Hospital, 31 at Mukumu Mission Hospital, and 14 at Shibwe Hospital.
A nurse who sought anonymity said the condition that has led to the students losing sensation in their legs is believed to be electrolyte imbalance.
She explained that the condition is characterised by the loss of fluids in the body of the victims, as observed in most of the students.
“This condition is called electrolyte imbalance, a condition that leads to loss of fluids in the body,” the nurse said.
The latest incident comes months after the Mukumu Girls High School in Kenya was closed on April 3, after reports of an outbreak of a mysterious illness that left over 100 students hospitalised.
The students had shown symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, and high fever, a development that called for precautionary measures to prevent further spread of the disease.
After investigations were carried out, the Ministry of Health announced that the students had consumed food contaminated with human waste.
“From which preliminary laboratory investigations undertaken have revealed Enterotoxigenic E. coli and Salmonella typhi as the causes of the illness,” Acting Director General for Health Patrick Amoth said.
