RIFT VALLEY FEVER – KENYA (02): (MARSABIT)
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Date: Sun 4 Feb 2024
Source: Kenya News Agency [edited]
https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/alarm-as-rvf-confirmed-in-marsabit/
An outbreak of the Rift Valley Fever (RVF) has been reported in
Marsabit County, with the government sounding an alert to residents to
be vigilant, so as not to contract the deadly virus.
Marsabit County Deputy Governor, Solomon Gubo, said that 4 positive
cases out of 43 samples already analyzed at the Kenya Medical Research
Institute (KEMRI), have been confirmed positive.
Gubo, during the County Steering Group (DSG) meeting held at Jirme
Hotel, said that 2 cases of livestock out of 8 samples that were sent
to the same laboratories also turned positive by polymerase chain
reaction (PCR).
All the confirmed cases were from Shurr area, Turbi-Bubisa Ward in
North Horr Constituency, where many animal abortions have also been
recorded.
The Deputy Governor expressed concern that the Devolved Unit capacity
to contain the deadly virus, was inadequate and appealed to the
National Government and other partners, to make interventions, as a
matter of urgency.
The Deputy Governor said intervention measures were underway with the
residents being educated on how to avoid contact with animals they
suspect to be sick and getting rid of mosquito breeding grounds.
Gubo also disclosed that an upsurge of malaria outbreak has hit the
Saku and Moyale Sub-counties, despite the county not being a
malaria-prone zone.
While disclosing that measures to get rid of mosquitoes have been
enhanced with spraying of households and homesteads against the
vector, he urged locals to sleep under mosquito nets and to seek
treatment immediately if they developed fever or felt unwell.
The County Executive Member for Health, Grace Galmo, said that all the
confirmed cases were outpatient, adding that there were no admissions
or deaths reported so far.
She attributed the outbreaks to the just concluded El-Nino rains, that
led to the multiplication of mosquitoes, which are responsible for the
spread of the disease from livestock to human beings.
Galmo added that more samples were being sent to KEMRI and that the
extent of the spread would be known once the results are out.
She expressed frustrations in tackling the situation, citing lack of
resources to enable the department of health procure nets, vaccines
and drugs.
Galmo said 5 out of the 43 affected cases were children aged less than
10 years, adding that disease surveillance has been stepped up across
the county.
The confirmation came as 2 Rift Valley fever cases were also reported
in the neighbouring Wajir County.
Meanwhile, the government spokesperson, Isaac Mwaura, disclosed that
the Ministry of Health has so far distributed 1.2 million
insecticide-treated mosquito nets across the country.