The Ministry of Health has confirmed reports of a Rift Valley Fever (RVF), human case, from Turbi, North Horr Sub-County, Marsabit County.
The alert was issued by the Acting Director General for Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth through a circular to all County Directors of Health, and addressed through the Chief Executive Officer, Council of Governors, dated 24th January 2024.
Dr. Amoth, said that this marks the first reported human case in the country. He further added that the government would conduct further investigations to identify additional cases and assess the extent of the outbreak.
“This outbreak is closely associated with the conclusion of El-Niño rains, leading to a surge in the mosquito population and an increased transmission of vector-borne diseases,” said Dr. Amoth
Dr. Amoth has also advised all counties to remain on high alert for the potential spread of RVF, given the reported increase in mosquito population nationwide and the movement of livestock.
“Specifically, County Departments of Health should inform all healthcare workers about this alert, sensitize healthcare workers to RVF case definitions, increase the index of suspicion, and share case definitions with all health facilities and reporting units,” said Dr. Amoth.
He also called on health officials to enhance disease surveillance and reporting at all levels and enhance capacity for sample referral to National Public Health Laboratories (NPHLS) for confirmatory testing.
One health approach
All counties have also been requested to activate County-level multisectoral coordination mechanisms using the One Health approach to guide preparedness and response efforts.
“I would also like to encourage County Departments of Health, to develop RVF-specific preparedness and response plans, implement integrated vector control programs, and conduct public awareness campaigns about RVF,” said Dr. Amoth.
Preventive measures for RVF include using protective equipment such as gloves and protective gowns when assisting with animal births, discarding aborted/stillbirths or retained placentas, and disposing of carcasses, avoiding the handling and consumption of uninspected meat and using insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent mosquito bites.
“I would like to advise all individuals experiencing a fever to report to the nearest health facility for assessment,” said Dr. Amoth.
He highlighted that the Ministry of Health is working closely with the Directorate of Veterinary Services to monitor the situation and will update Kenyans accordingly.
About Rift Valley Fever
According to information available on the WHO website, Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a viral zoonosis that primarily affects animals but also has the capacity to infect humans. It 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.
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.
While some human infections have resulted from the bite of infected mosquitoes, most human infections result from contact with the blood or organs of infected animals.
Occupational groups such as herders, farmers, slaughterhouse workers and veterinarians are at higher risk of infection. Humans may also become infected by ingesting the unpasteurized or uncooked milk of infected animals.
No human-to-human transmission of RVF has however been documented to date.
