At least 20 inmates from the Nyahururu GK Prison have been diagnosed with Tuberculosis (TB), one of whom has drug-resistant TB.
This was discovered during a week-long screening at the correctional facility by health officials from the County Health Service department.
According to the County TB Program Coordinator, Mr. Muriithi Wanjiku, at least 700 inmates have been screened and over 200 samples have been selected for further examination, noting that TB prevalence has increased in the last two months.
The exercise was carried out in collaboration with health officials from Nyahururu County & Referral Hospital, where it was reported that prison congestion was a major contributor to disease spread.
Officials have since recommended that an Isolation Ward be built to house victims in order to prevent further spread.
Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu stated that his administration has taken the matter seriously and has pledged to spearhead the construction of the Isolation Ward.
Health officials urged residents to get regular screenings and checkups to see if they have the bacterial disease, which is commonly spread through the air from one infected person to another.
According to the officials, TB screening is an effective method for identifying people who might not seek treatment otherwise due to misinformation or misunderstanding about their symptoms.
TB is most commonly associated with the lungs, but it can also affect the brain, kidneys, or spine.
TB is treatable and curable in most cases; however, people with TB can die if they do not receive proper treatment.
Drug-resistant tb occurs when bacteria become resistant to the drugs used to treat the disease. This means the drug can no longer kill the tuberculosis bacteria.
