Student of Mukumu girls dies after suspected food poisoning

A student of Sacred Heart Mukumu Girls’ High School in Kakamega County has died days after 246 learners were hospitalized.

The students were hospitalized with vomiting, diarrhea, and dizziness.

Dr. Josphat Kaswira, the chairman of the school’s board of management, confirmed the death but withheld further information since it was under discussion.

The student was reportedly sent home for treatment after becoming ill, but her condition worsened and she passed away, according to sources at the school.

The number of students who were initially admitted with those symptoms was 124; however, this number more than doubled, with several of them reporting feeling exhausted and out of breath.

Initial testing by public health authorities ruled out cholera even though it was not immediately known what the students suffered from. The officials said that food poisoning could be the likely cause of the diarrhea.

Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa addressed the suspected poisoning of hundreds of students from the school.

Speaking on Tuesday, Barasa disclosed that by 9pm, more than 124 students had been admitted to Kakamega County General Hospital. According to reports, they displayed extreme fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain symptoms.

“The number of affected students at the facility continued rising and as at 9:00pm, 124 victims had been attended to by medics, of which 13 students have been admitted so far due to severe dehydration. The conditions of 111 other students is still under investigation before further action is taken,” the governor said.