Nakuru continues to battle TB despite increase in new cases
Nakuru County has recorded an increase in TB cases.
According to the County Government of Nakuru website, 698 new tuberculosis cases were recorded in 2023. 20 of these cases were drug resistant TB (MDR TB) while the infection rate stands at 181 cases per 100,000 people.
In the National Tuberculosis Leprosy and Lung Disease Programme 2022 report, Nakuru County reported an increase in case notification by 28 percent.
The Multi Drug Resistant TB (MDR TB) presents a huge challenge in the fight against TB. This particular strain is resistant to two main TB drugs (isoniazid and rifampin) making them useless.
In addition to this it is also impervious to fluoroquinolones which is the best second line medication.
County TB and Leprosy Coordinator, Dr Judy Neimah Barasa while speaking during the World TB day said that the rise in the number of cases was alarming.
She added that TB is very expensive to treat and it takes up to one and a half years to treat it.
Amidst all this, the County has managed to record an 87 percent TB treatment success rate. This was attributed to active case search, defaulter tracing and treatment adherence.
Tuberculosis is classified as a communicable disease, meaning it can easily spread from one person to another.
Those who most fall prey to this deadly disease are those within the ages of 15-29, most of whom are women according to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey of 2022.
Various studies have found that smoking shisha puts one at risk of contracting TB.
In many of the urban centres, smoking shisha is considered cool, and even though it was banned in 2017 the trend is still on the rise mainly among the youth.
There is usually the risk of these apparatus not being cleaned properly and in other instances you find more than 4-5 people sharing a single apparatus to inhale the smoke, therefore increasing the risk of contracting this disease.
Even with efforts being made through various initiatives to try and sensitize people on tuberculosis, it falls on individuals to be vigilant and prevent contracting this disease.