Kenya: 2 Dead, Several Admitted In Suspected Anthrax Outbreak In Meru

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.kahawatungu.com/2019/04/24/2-dead-several-admitted-anthrax-outbreak-meru/

2 Dead, Several Admitted In Suspected Anthrax Outbreak In Meru
by Wycliffe Wycliffe
April 24, 2019, 3:26 PM

Two people have been confirmed dead and nine others admitted in hospital following suspected anthrax outbreak in Meru County.

Reports indicate the nine are currently admitted at Muthara Sub-County hospital.

The county has sent blood samples to the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRi) for further examination.

?Two patients died due to the infection and samples have been sent to Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) in Nairobi for confirmatory tests,? said Meru County?s Director of Communication Purity Nkirote.

Some of the patients told the doctors that they had consumed a carcass of a cow.

Others blamed their ailment on insect bites...

 

[Pathfinder]

2 dead, 9 hospitalised in suspected anthrax outbreak

WEDNESDAY APRIL 24 2019


By DAVID MUCHUI

Two people have died in Meru from suspected anthrax outbreak that has left nine other fighting for their lives.
...
Meru County Health Chief Officer Kanana Kimonye said investigations are underway to confirm the strange disease.

?We have been getting some cases from Tigania East and our public health officers are on the ground to establish whether it is an insect bite or something else. When we have the correct information, we will inform the public on how to prevent the infection,? Dr Kimonye said.

The county?s Public Health Director Mutabari Inanga said they had received reports of the disease outbreak in Muthara and Karama at the onset of the Easter holiday.

?We cannot say it is an insect bite or anthrax because it has mainly affected children and a few women. No men are affected. If we say it is anthrax, why are men not affected yet they slaughter animals??

?We are now looking into insect bites and are engaging entomologists to assist us in identifying the insect that may be causing the problem. Officers are at the affected homes and will find out if there are others unreported cases,? Dr Inanga said.
...
https://www.nation.co.ke/counties/m...thrax-outbreak-in-Meru/1183302-5085872-v6t5j/

 

[Pathfinder]

Focus now shifts to anthrax in Meru disease outbreak

THURSDAY APRIL 25 2019
...
?Initially, we thought the condition was caused by an insect based on accounts by the patients and locals. But after further investigations, people admitted to have consumed meat from a cow that had died.\
...
Dr Koome said five patients are currently admitted to various hospitals across the county while the rest have been treated and discharged.

?Those affected suspected insect bites because they felt itchy before developing blisters. But what we have are clinical presentations of cutaneous anthrax. The patients are responding well to treatment as we await confirmatory tests from Kemri,? Dr Koome said.
...
Areas affected by the outbreak include Luthii, Mutunduru, Limbariki, Ntirutu and Laikumukumu in Tigania East.
...

https://www.nation.co.ke/counties/meru/Meru-anthrax-outbreak-contained/1183302-5087712-jc7xv0z/