•RVF is a viral disease most commonly seen in domesticated animals in sub-Saharan Africa, such as cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and camels
•People can get RVF through contact with blood, body fluids, or tissues of infected animals, or through bites from infected mosquitoes
Image: HANDOUT
Teams from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, have stepped up health promotion exercises in Marsabit county to avert further spread of Rift Valley Fever.
This is after the government confirmed an outbreak of the disease in the county last month after one case was confirmed in a human being.
MSF in a statement on Thursday said that by February 2, four cases of the disease had been confirmed in North Horr subcounty.
The NGO raised concern that communities in parts of Marsabit are facing the dual threat of Rift Valley Fever and an upsurge in malaria cases.
To address the potential evolution of the disease, teams from MSF and Kenya Medical Research Institute launched an outbreak investigation on February 8.
The aim is to understand, learn and describe the vector causing the Rift Valley Fever.
“While the investigation continues, MSF teams are reinforcing health promotion messaging to affected people in Shurr village,” MSF said.
“They are also providing personal protective equipment like gloves to prevent vector transmission between humans and infected animals,” it added.
Rift Valley fever primarily affects animals and also infects humans. It is transmitted by mosquitoes.
According to the NGO, communities in North Horr, Moyale and Saku Subcounties are also facing an upsurge in malaria cases.
To contain the malaria outbreak, the MSF team has been distributing mosquito nets in the community and malaria commodities to the local health facility in Songa village in Saku Subcounty.
“The teams are also enhancing community surveillance and providing treatment including managing critical cases,” it added.
In January, Acting Director General for Health Patrick Amoth called on the counties to be on high alert after a case of RVF was confirmed in a human.
The case, according to a circular to all county directors of Health dated January 24, was confirmed in an individual from Turbi in North Horr Subcounty in Marsabit County.
“This outbreak is closely associated with the conclusion of El Nino rains, leading to a surge in the mosquito population and an increased transmission of vector-borne diseases,” Amoth said.
RVF is a viral disease most commonly seen in domesticated animals in sub-Saharan Africa, such as cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and camels.
People can get RVF through contact with blood, body fluids, or tissues of infected animals, or through bites from infected mosquitoes.
The World Health Organization says the disease is transmitted by mosquitoes and blood-feeding flies.
"In humans, the disease ranges from a mild flu-like illness to severe haemorrhagic fever that can be lethal," WHO says.
The Global Health Agency warns that when livestock are infected, the disease can cause significant economic losses due to high mortality rates in young animals and waves of abortions in pregnant females.
MSF is a charity that provides humanitarian medical care and is known for its projects in conflict zones and in countries affected by endemic diseases.