By a correspondent
Wajir county department of health has confirmed that an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) could be looming after cases were detected in the frontier county putting residents on high alert.
According to health officials preliminary cases of RVF were detected at Basir settlement an outpost west of Wajir town after screening and laboratory test were done on suspected patients.
County Executive Committee member for health Mr. Abdihakim Billow told the local media that at least four people have so far died of the disease while four others are admitted for treatment .
He said a taskforce comprising of the two levels of governments have been established in order to address and mitigate this latest outbreak of the disease.
“In Basir one of RVF hotspots abortions, deaths and bleeding tendencies were observed in domesticated animals” Mr. Billow told the local media
The department of health said it is working hard to ensure that the current cases are put under control to prevent it from spreading to other settlements.
“We are appealing to community members to cooperate with field officers and enforcement agencies in ensuring compliance, while we appeal to development partners to join hands in combating the fight against RVF” said Mr. Billow
The entire Northeastern region was severely hit by an RVF outbreak in 1997/98 that claimed hundreds of people and thousands of livestock.
RVF is an acute, fever-causing viral disease most commonly affecting domesticated animals and humans can also be infected. RVF is spread by mosquitoes Eretmapodites spp., Aedes spp. and others which hatch during periods of intense rainfall and flooding.
The mosquitoes preferentially bite livestock, but will also bite humans. Humans can also contract the disease through handling infected animals or meat. Outbreaks of RVF can have major societal impacts, including significant economic losses and trade reduction.
