St Theresa’s Eregi Girls High School, located in Kakamega County, has been forced to close its doors due to an outbreak of an unidentified disease. This decision was reached following a meeting between school administrators and county government officials.
According to an official statement, students in Form one, two, and three will have a one-week break while investigations into the nature of the disease are ongoing. In contrast, Form four students will continue with their studies, preparing for the upcoming Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, scheduled for late October.
“The Board of Management (BOM), Ministry of Education officials, Teachers Service Commission (TSC) representatives, and the school’s sponsor have agreed to temporarily release Form 1, 2, and 3 students. They are expected to return next week after a thorough assessment and implementation of necessary measures to prevent a recurrence of such an incident,” as stated by the County Government of Kakamega.
The Kakamega County administration has joined forces with the Ministry of Health to investigate the root cause of this mysterious disease. Blood samples from the 95 affected students have been dispatched to the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) in Nairobi and Kisumu counties for further analysis.
The initial alert regarding the outbreak came when 95 students began experiencing difficulties in walking. Kakamega County authorities have assured the public of their commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all students in educational institutions, with a focus on creating a conducive learning environment free from disruptions and harm.
Meanwhile, health officials are closely monitoring the condition of the 95 affected students who have been admitted to various hospitals within Kakamega County, with hopes of identifying and containing the source of the illness.