Mysterious disease sends 95 schoolgirls to hospital in western Kenya

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) – Some 95 schoolgirls in western Kenya have been hospitalized due to a mysterious disease, leading to the closure of the affected school indefinitely.

Officials said 95 students from St. Theresa's Eregi Girls High School, located 374 kilometers (232 miles) northwest of Nairobi, have been hospitalized as a result of the enigmatic illness that has swept through the institution.

According to local media reports, the students are reportedly suffering from a disease that has paralyzed their legs, rendering most of them unable to walk.

The decision to close the school came following a meeting between school administrators and officials from the Education Ministry.

A statement from the school noted that hundreds of the affected students will be allowed back to school once the situation has been carefully assessed and necessary measures are put in place.

County education official Bonface Okoth told reporters on Wednesday that 95 students had been admitted to hospitals for medical attention.

The exact nature of the mysterious illness remains undisclosed, but health officials have said that blood samples from the affected students have been sent to the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) laboratories to determine the nature and origin of the ailment, as well as to develop appropriate treatment protocols.

The county urged parents and guardians of the affected students to stay vigilant and monitor their children's health closely, as health officials work to identify the causes and establish containment measures.