Kenya: Rift Valley Fever (600+ deaths)

Snowy Owl · Dec 21, 2006

Thank you to Flu Trackers Team

The Nation (Nairobi)
December 21, 2006
Posted to the web December 21, 2006

Nation Correspondents
Nairobi

Eleven people have died of a highly contagious disease in parts of North Eastern Province.

Seven people have died in Garissa and four others in Ijara District in the past two days.

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Symptoms of the disease include high fever, jaundice (yellowness in the eyes), vomiting blood, diarrhoea, headache and swelling on both legs and hands.
"Most victims bleed through all body openings, leading to death in about 48 hours after infection," said Special Programmes ministry spokesman Tom Namasaka.

40 deaths
More cases of the disease continued to be received from Korakora, Amuma, Liboi, Shanta-Abaq, Baraki, Fafi and Shimbirey where about 40 deaths of livestock have also been reported.

Garissa district medical officer of health Abdullahi Abagira warned that the disease was probably spreading to human beings through consumption of animal products.

Garissa district veterinary officer William Kabak confirmed an outbreak of lumpy skin disease (LSD) and black quarter diseases in the region and warned residents against eating uninspected meat.
In Nairobi, a senior deputy director of medical services, Dr Francis Kimani, said the results of the investigations were likely to be released today.
The Kenya Red Cross Society said it has prepared isolation centres to tackle all reported cases.

Might not have acess fro the rest of the afternoon, tomorrow maybe ??

Regards

Gert van der Hoek · Dec 21, 2006

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Link for the article:

http://allafrica.com/stories/200612210018.html

Snowy Owl · Dec 21, 2006

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

All thanks to Sharpe and the Flu Trackers Team

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>Five more die from unidentified disease <HR color=#e78e84></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top>By Victor Obure and Adow Jubat
An unidentified disease currently ravaging parts of Garissa District has claimed five more people, pushing the death toll to 12.
Garissa Medical Officer of Health, Dr Abdullahi Abagira, confirmed the deaths. He said the disease, which affects both livestock and human beings, was highly contagious and was already taking a high toll on the herdsmen in grazing fields, where the first case were reported last week.
Seven people died from the disease in Shanta Abaq and Fafi areas, where hundreds of livestock have also succumbed.
The MOH said the animals are exhibiting similar symptoms with human beings but not as severe. Three herdsmen died on arrival at the Garissa Provincial General Hospital. Nurses told The Standard that efforts to resuscitate the bleeding patients were not successful.
Most of the victims experienced high fever, swollen limbs, diarrhoea and vomited blood.
Abagira convened a crisis meeting on Wednesday to map out modalities of containing the outbreak amid fears that the disease could spread further.
And medics from the African Medical and Research foundation (AMREF) jetted into the area in a bid to unravel the disease.

http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143962788
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Gert van der Hoek · Dec 21, 2006

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Kenya: Alarm in Garissa As Disease Claims 7 Lives

The East African Standard (Nairobi)

December 19, 2006

Posted to the web December 19, 2006

Victor Obure

Nairobi

An unidentified disease has killed seven people in Garissa District in one week.

Four of them succumbed to the disease in Shanta-abaq division, while the others died of similar symptoms in Fafi.

It is feared that more than 70 people in Fafi have been infected with the disease.

North Eastern deputy provincial commissioner, Mr Josphat Kimeu Maingi, on Tuesday said health officials have raised alarm following the deaths.

He said the areas were only accessible by helicopter, adding that plans were underway to deploy a military chopper from Nairobi to airlift drugs and health experts.

"We are making efforts to dispatch a chopper to airlift patients to the provincial general hospital," he added.

The Provincial Public Health Officer, Mr Ahmed Fankey, said samples from the dead would be collected for analysis.

Administration Police officers who first visited the affected homes reportedly found some victims bleeding.

An officer told The Standard of the agony of trying to save the victims.

"Villagers and health workers watched as the victims died There was no help in sight since the region was cut off following heavy rains," he said.

Although the officers took some of the victims to health centres, they could not be saved because of lack of equipment and drugs.

Fankey said preliminary reports showed that most victims bled through all body openings, leading to death in about 48 hours after infection.

Other symptoms, he said, include swelling of the legs and palms, and yellowing of the eyes.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200612191018.html

Snowy Owl · Dec 21, 2006

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Emergency aid distributed to isolated and flooded villages of northeastern Kenya
javascript:;

30 November 2006 :

Since the morning of November 28, M?decins Sans Fronti?res teams have been carrying out non-food items distributions with helicopter transport to bring assistance to isolated populations due to the recent floods that have affected the region over the last few weeks.

After two days of air assessment over the region most affected by the recent heavy rains, MSF teams managed to identify six villages situated northwest of Dadaab, a small town surrounded by refugee camps that accommodate up to 140,000 mostly Somali refugees.

While these refugees have been severely affected by the floods themselves, some Kenyan villages located around Dadaab have been completely isolated and cut off from the rest of the country and without any possibility to receive supplies by land.

Two MSF chartered helicopters have been flying in rotations since November 28th out of Dadaab to carry relief supplies including several thousands of mosquito nets, dozens of rolls of plastic sheeting, fuel supplies for generator powered water pumps and medical supplies, specifically Oral Re-hydration Salts (ORS) to the six identified villages of Gurufa, Baraki, Dertu, Alikune, Shantabaq and Kumahamthu.

These villages, surrounded by water and with an estimated population of 40,000 people, have faced a massive mosquito presence since the flooding began and the most vulnerable in the villages are struggling to protect themselves from the insect bites.

In addition, numerous houses have been damaged by the heavy rains that show no sign of ending.

Numerous houses have been destroyed and many heads of cattle have been lost in the floods.

Food reserves will soon be exhausted and without a rapid relief assistance, most of these populations will find themselves incapable of feeding the neediest.

MSF teams have been present in the region of Dadaab since the begining of October 2006 assessing the needs of Somali refugee populations gathered alongside the border with north-east Kenya.

Snowy Owl · Dec 21, 2006

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Kenya: Floods Preliminary Appeal No. MDRKE003 Operations Update No. 2

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/LSGZ-6WPEPB?OpenDocument

In Brief
Appeal No. MDRKE003; Operations Update no. 2; Period covered: 8 December to 14 December, 2006; Appeal coverage: 20.5%. Please note that the financial update and information reflecting contributions and expenditures to date for the operation will be made available shortly.

Appeal history:
Launched on 17 November for CHF 9,848,235 (USD 7,864,934 OR EUR 6,157,653) in cash, kind, or services to assist 300,000 beneficiaries for 6 months. Refer to - http://www.ifrc.org/cgi/pdf_appeals.pl?06/MDRKE003ap.pdf

Operations Update no. 1 captured the worsening flooding situation and Red Cross Red Crescent efforts to provide assistance to the affected population. It was issued on 24 November 2006. Refer to - http://www.ifrc.org/cgi/pdf_appeals.pl?06/MDRKE00301.pdf

This appeal was revised on 7 December 2006 for CHF 26,352,005 (USD 21,832,647 or EUR 16,563,171) in cash, kind, or services to assist 563,000 beneficiaries for 4 months. Refer to - http://www.ifrc.org/cgi/pdf_appeals.pl?06/MDRKE003rev.pdf

Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF) allocated: CHF 750,000 (USD 630,000 or EUR 470,000) Outstanding needs: CHF 20,953,090 (USD 17 million or EUR 13 million) Related Emergency or Annual Appeals:
East Africa Sub-regional Programmes: http://www.ifrc.org/cgi/pdf_appeals.pl?annual06/MAA64003.pdf

Kenya Drought Emergency Appeal no. MDRKE001 - http://www.ifrc.org/cgi/pdf_appeals.pl?06/MDRKE001.pdf

Operational Summary: The flooding situation in the country continues to unfold, bringing with it new challenges for the flood-affected population. The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS), in coordination with partner national societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Kenyan Government, United Nations agencies and international humanitarian agencies, is currently focusing on the provision of emergency relief non food items and addressing immediate health, and water and sanitation needs.

Please note that in addition to the information reflected in this Operations Update, the KRCS has extensive updates available on their website at <http://www.kenyaredcross.org/>

The projects and activities elaborated here are aligned with The International Federation's Global Agenda which sets out four broad goals to meet the Federation's mission to "improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity".

These are:
Reduce the numbers of deaths, injuries and impact from disasters.
Reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact from diseases and public health emergencies.

Increase local community, civil society and Red Cross Red Crescent capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability.
Reduce intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion and promote respect for diversity and human dignity.

Background and current situation

Heavy downpours were experienced in parts of Kenya at the beginning of October, leading to heavy flooding. 34 lives were lost and an estimated 723,000 people affected, including about 60,000 others in Isiolo, Garissa, Turkana, Lodwar, Moyale, Wajir, Mandera and Kisumu. The rains have caused severe destruction to the infrastructure.

Bridges have been washed away and roads linking towns cut off making transportation/access a complicated for commuters and traders. Many commuters were stranded for days without food. Reports indicate that the main livelihoods in the affected areas are farming, livestock and fishery which have been highly affected by the flooding.

Crops and some motorized irrigation pumps are reported to be washed away and irrigation infrastructures are damaged.

The extremely high amount of rainfall has led to excess amounts of water at Kenya's hydro -electric dams resulting in overspill that led to the flooding of the entire Tana River flood plain triggering the displacement of hundreds of communities on both sides of the river and exacerbating the already precarious situation.

This humanitarian situation is unfolding in a region that is among the least developed in the country and has been suffering successive droughts over the past decade thereby further weakening the ability of the local communities to withstand disaster. The coping mechanisms of the affected communities has already been exhausted and this floods emergency is an unusual occurrence as the region is arid and is usually a drought prone area.

During the weekend of the 2 December, heavy rainfall spread to the western region of Kenya particularly affecting Busia (Budalangi). Dykes along the Nyando River were completely destroyed, in many places, resulting in large scale destruction of property and flooding of farming land along the flood plain. According to Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) assessments, some 12,000 households have been displaced and are in urgent need of relief assistance and other services. KRCS volunteers from neighbouring branches were mobilized to carry out assessments and have so far distributed relief items to 1,000 affected households.

Elwak and Mandera districts in North Eastern Province and parts of Meru in Eastern Province continue to receive torrential rainfall even as floods subside in the other affected parts of the country.

The Government of Kenya has not so far declared the situation as a National Emergency. Tabulated below is a summary of the current situation per province, the current threat and the emergency response provided by the national society.

For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:

In Kenya: Abbas Gullet, Secretary General, Kenya Red Cross Society, Nairobi; Email:gullet.abbas@kenyaredcross.org; Phone 254.20.30.35.93; Fax 254.20.60.35.89
In Kenya: Esther Okwanga, Federation Head of East Africa Sub-Regional Office, Nairobi; Email:esther.okwanga@ifrc.org; Phone 254.20.283.50.00; Fax 254.20.271.27.77
In Kenya: Per Jensnäs, Federation Head of Eastern Africa Regional Delegation, Nairobi; Email

er.jensnaes@ifrc.org; Phone 254.20.283.51.24; Fax 254.20.271.27.77
In Geneva: Amna Al Ahmar, Federation Regional Officer for Eastern Africa, Africa Dept.; Email:amna.alahmar@ifrc.org; Phone 41.22.730.44.27; Fax 41.22.733.03.95
All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for a full description of the national society profile, please access the Federation's website at http://www.ifrc.org

PLUS: Photo Gallery

Snowy Owl · Dec 21, 2006

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

KENYA FLOODS OPERATION BRIEF http://www.kenyaredcross.org/newsdetail.php?newsid=27&subcat=77

Summary

Heavy downpours have been experienced in various parts of Kenya since mid-October, resulting in the deaths of 114 people as of 6th December 2006. An estimated 723,000 people have been affected in Isiolo, Garissa, Turkana, Lodwar, Moyale, Wajir, Mandera, Busia and Kisumu districts countrywide. Ijara district has only been accessible by air. Dadaab, which is home to 160,000 refugees, is extremely difficult to access. Parts of Tana River, Garissa, Wajir, Moyale and Mandera districts remain inaccessible. The health situation in the flooded areas is deteriorating rapidly with incidences of diarrhoeal diseases, malaria and even cholera. There are fears that water sources may have been contaminated as latrines, shallow wells and earth dams in all affected regions have collapsed and are covered by floodwaters. Livestock diseases may also occur as the floods recede.

Targeted Beneficiaries
Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) is targeting to assist approximately 563,000 people (approximately 94,000 families).

Floods Appeal
KRCS, through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, issued a Revised Floods Appeal amounting to Ksh 1.5 Billion (CHF 26,352,005 or US$ 21,832,647 or EUR 16,563,171). The appeal includes:

Provide search and rescue services to minimise the effects of floods on vulnerable communities isolated or threatened by the ongoing floods in the next 4 months.
Improve the status of 503,000 affected beneficiaries through provision of appropriate emergency relief kits.
Establish livelihood recovery and rehabilitation needs and ensure that they are linked to humanitarian assistance in floods affected areas.
Enhance the operational capacity of KRCS to respond to potential future disasters throughout Kenya.
Contribute towards reducing mortality and morbidity through provision of preventive public health community care and basic clinical care to 150,000 floods affected people.
Strengthen the capacity of KRCS in the provision of basic health care as well as epidemic preparedness and response in remote areas, using BHC-ERU.
Ensure preparedness for a prolonged flooding situation and for temporary support in case of possible influx of refugees from Somalia.
Reduce the risk of waterborne and water related diseases through provision of sustained access to safe water, adequate sanitation and hygiene promotion as well as education services to 503,000 flood affected people.

Needs
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=1><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=139>

Immediate needs

</TD><TD vAlign=top width=84>

Unit Cost In Ksh

</TD><TD vAlign=top width=391>

Source/Local Supplier

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=139>Blankets
</TD><TD vAlign=top width=84>280
</TD><TD vAlign=top width=391>Spinners & Spinners, Spartan, Techno Relief, MKM Trading Co
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=139>Tarpaulins
</TD><TD vAlign=top width=84>750
</TD><TD vAlign=top width=391>Spartan, Techno Relief, MKM Trading Company
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=139>Kitchen sets
</TD><TD vAlign=top width=84>750
</TD><TD vAlign=top width=391>Spartan, Techno Relief, MKM Trading Company
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=139>Mosquito nets
</TD><TD vAlign=top width=84>300
</TD><TD vAlign=top width=391>Spartan, Techno Relief, MKM Trading Company
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=139>Jerricans
</TD><TD vAlign=top width=84>230
</TD><TD vAlign=top width=391>Spartan, Techno Relief, MKM Trading Company
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=139>Chlorine tablets
</TD><TD vAlign=top width=84>5
</TD><TD vAlign=top width=391>Spartan, Techno Relief, MKM Trading Company
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=139>Bars of soap
</TD><TD vAlign=top width=84>
</TD><TD vAlign=top width=391>Spartan, Techno Relief, MKM Trading Company
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
In-kind donations may be delivered at the Kenya Red Cross Society Headquarters in South ?C?, off Mombasa Road, near Kenya Bureau of Standards, Opposite Wells Fargo, Nairobi, Kenya.

NOTE: Food will be handled by the Government of Kenya and WFP.

Cash donations can be made through the following Kenya Red Cross Society Bank Accounts Details:

Account Name: KRCS Relief Account of Kenya
Bank: Barclays Bank
Branch: Enterprise Road
Account Number: 070-8040126

Account Name: KRCS Relief Account
Bank: National Bank of Kenya
Branch: Harambee A venue
Account Number: 01021-054338-00

Branch: KRCS Relief Account
Account Number: Co-operative Bank
Account Name: Co-operative House
Bank: 0110030552000

Account Name: KRCS Relief Account
Bank: Kenya Commercial Bank
Branch: Moi Avenue
Account Number: 234770832

Account Name: KRCS Relief
Account Bank: Standard Chartered Bank
Branch: Kenyatta A venue
Account Number: 01040-763719-00

Gert van der Hoek · Dec 21, 2006

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Speculation, symptoms could indicate Ebola:

GREAT LAKES: Uganda alerts Kenya to Ebola danger

NAIROBI, 15 November (IRIN) - Health officials in Uganda have alerted
their counterparts in the Kenyan health ministry to the possible danger of
an outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever after it was discovered that seven
Kenyans attended the funeral of a fellow citizen believed to have died
from the disease in Masindi district, western Uganda, late last month.

The woman who died was buried in traditional manner - one of the principal
causes of transmission of the disease, the BBC reported. Since then, three
of her relatives have died, including her husband, who tested positive for
the Ebola antigen.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said the woman had been hospitalised
in Gulu - the northern district where Ebola first broke out - and
contracted the disease from an infected nurse. Staff from the Ugandan
health ministry, WHO, the US Centre for Disease Control, and the health
NGO Medecins sans frontieres (MSF) arrived in Masindi on Monday "to
implement barrier nursing procedures and trace contacts", it said.

Uganda's Director-General of Health Services Dr Francis Omaswa said on
Tuesday he had spoken to his Kenyan counterpart, who had already located
those Kenyans who attended the funeral in Masindi. The seven had shown no
signs of Ebola but were quarantined in their homes and would be monitored
for 42 days before being declared free of infection, a Kenyan health
ministry statement, cited by local media, said. In all, some 150 people
who attended the funeral in Masindi were under medical surveillance,
Omaswa added.

A team of experts from Gulu were due to travel to Kenya on Wednesday to
offer advice on how to deal with any potential Ebola epidemic, the BBC
report said. "Despite this ominous-sounding development, the Ugandan
authorities remain confident that the Ebola epidemic is coming under
control," it added.

WHO on 3 November recommended that no special restrictions were required
on travel or trade to or from Uganda. Many countries have routine health
regulations concerning travel and trade, and "no specific measures with
respect to Ebola haemorrhagic fever are warranted or advised," it said.

>From 8-11 November inclusive, only five confirmed Ebola cases were
recognised in Gulu, bringing the cumulative figures for the district to
320 cases and 104 deaths, the health agency stated on Tuesday. In the
southwest Mbarara district, three people are confirmed to have died from
the disease. All of the cases in Mbarara and Masindi had resulted from
people infected in Gulu, and, at the national level, the number of new
cases of Ebola fever had "declined sharply", WHO added.

Ebola is an acute viral illness with symptoms including sudden onset of
fever, malaise and headache, followed by vomiting, diarrhoea and rash.
Haemorrhagic fever is often accompanied by liver damage, kidney failure
and terminal shock. It is transmitted by direct contact with the blood,
secretions, organs or semen of infected people. The current outbreak is
the first in Uganda.

http://www.fas.org/ahead/disease/ef/2000/dis-ef-001115-afken.htm

update:

http://www.fas.org/ahead/disease/ef...01124-afken.htm

Gert van der Hoek · Dec 21, 2006

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Experts dispatched to asses mysterious fever in Garissa

Written By:Francis Gachuri , Posted: Thu, Dec 21, 2006

The government has immediately moved to Garissa in a bid to asses the mysterious fever that has hit the area, killing at least 12 people so far.

Health permanent secretary Dr Hezron Nyangito says so far, preliminary tests done by the Kenya medical research institute (KEMRI) has ruled out several fatal fevers haemorhagic including laser fever, yellow fever and Ebola.

Nyangito says by Thursday evening, a team of experts investigating the fever will have conclusively established the kind of fever that has hit Garissa and called for calm among the residents.

Speaking at the ministry headquarters after receiving immunization equipments and drugs from the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Nyangito said the recent floods that hit the area may have led to rapid breeding of mosquitoes that may be the cause of the mysterious fever.

He said his ministry has dispatched over 250,000 mosquito nets as initial measures to protect the residents from the mosquitoes and arrest the situation that has claimed 12 lives so far.

The chief medical specialist in the ministry Dr Shannaz Sharrif said a team of experts from the ministry and the KEMRI were already in Garissa and would establish the type of fever by this evening.

He urged area residents exhibiting symptoms such as severe headache, vomiting blood and rising body temperatures to seek immediate medical assistance.

http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=40006

Johnny Yuma · Dec 21, 2006

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Ebola can infect wild mammals:

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/P..._Linked_To_Wildlife_And_Climate_999.htmlSpace

Pattern Of Human Ebola Outbreaks Linked To Wildlife And Climate

The Ebola virus.
by Staff Writers
San Diego CA (SPX) Nov 16, 2006
A visiting biologist at the University of California, San Diego and her colleagues in Africa and Britain have shown that there are close linkages between outbreaks of Ebola hemorrhagic fever in human and wildlife populations, and that climate may influence the spread of the disease.

The decade-long study, published this month (with a cover date of January) in the journal Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, tracked animal disease outbreaks and human exposure to the Ebola virus in Gabon and adjoining northwestern Republic of the Congo (RoC). The researchers found that many additional wildlife and human populations within and outside of known epidemic zones have been exposed to the virus. When they considered disease outbreaks in all mammals, not just humans, the spread of Ebola no longer seemed erratic and inexplicable.

"Some researchers have hypothesized that outbreaks of Ebola are randomly-spaced periodic outbursts, while others have suggested that Ebola has spread like a wave surging over the Central African landscape," said Sally Lahm, a visiting scholar in UCSD's Division of Biological Sciences and the primary investigator of the study. "Our results are intermediate between these two views. There is a perceived pattern to the way the virus spreads, but it is not simply a wave affecting everything in its path, since apparently healthy mammal communities thrived in close proximity to Ebola epidemic sites."

Lahm has been a research associate at the Institute for Research in Tropical Ecology in Makokou, Gabon since 1982. She was conducting unrelated ecological studies when outbreaks of Ebola virus in humans prompted her to explore how the disease was affecting animal populations in the region. Between 1994 and 2003, she collected reports of animal illness and deaths from wildlife survey teams, villagers, hunters, fishers, loggers, miners, Ebola survivors and families of victims from across Gabon and into northwestern RoC.

Despite the low probability of finding dead animals in the humid forests that cover most of the region, due to the scavenging by animals and insects and rapid decomposition, Lahm received and verified reports of 397 dead animals. The carcasses, which were found at 35 different sites in Gabon and RoC, included gorillas, chimpanzees, mandrills, bush pigs, porcupines and four species of antelope. Tests on 14 samples from the decomposed carcasses did not detect the Ebola virus, but at 12 sites, observers also saw sick or dying animals with symptoms consistent with Ebola infection. In addition, 16 reported wildlife mortality incidents coincided with known Ebola epidemics.

"The transmission of Ebola within animal populations is much more widespread than previously believed," explained Lahm. "Ebola appears to spread both within species and between different species of animals."

To determine the extent of human exposure to Ebola within Gabon, Lahm collaborated with Maryvonne Kombila, the director of the Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology at the University of Health Sciences in Libreville, Gabon and with Robert Swanepoel, the director of the Special Pathogens Branch of the National Institute of Communicable Diseases in Sandringham, South Africa. Swanepoel tested for antibodies to the Ebola virus in more than one-thousand human blood samples that had been collected by Kombila and her colleagues for other research in Gabon between 1981 and 1997.

Fourteen of the blood samples tested positive for antibodies to Ebola. Some people had been exposed at least three years before the first known Ebola outbreak in Gabon, while others lived in regions where no known epidemics had occurred. In 2003, Lahm was able to track down six of the people whose blood samples indicated that they had been exposed to the Ebola virus. Life history interviews revealed that some of the antibody-positive people had never visited a region where known Ebola outbreaks occurred in humans. Therefore people have been exposed to the Ebola virus where it has not been recognized.

Based on their findings, the researchers were able to identify relationships among previously documented Ebola outbreaks in humans and wildlife in Gabon and RoC that initially seemed disparate and unrelated. They proposed that the virus first spread southwest across Gabon. It then looped back toward the northeast from sites in western or central Gabon and caused the most recent outbreaks in RoC.

"If the spread of the Ebola virus follows its current northeastward path, the next outbreak would be expected to occur in northern Republic of the Congo towards Cameroon and the Central African Republic," predicted Lahm.

However, according to the findings, the spread of Ebola also depends on climate factors. Illness and deaths among animals were most prevalent during periods of prolonged drought-like conditions in the rainforest, which indicates that severe environmental stress may facilitate disease transmission.

In the study, the researchers urge that public education is needed to decrease human contact with potentially infected wildlife by discouraging people from scavenging dead animals and by promoting safe hunting and trapping practices, especially because the results show that outbreaks in wildlife populations have been much more frequent than previously believed. They emphasize that monitoring wildlife in collaboration with rural African residents could provide information essential for protecting public health as well as comprehending the ecology of the disease.

Lahm points out that there remain many unanswered questions about Ebola including how the virus spreads within and between mammal species.

"Our study provides more pieces of the puzzle, but at the same time it is enlarging the puzzle," she noted.

Richard Barnes from the Environmental Sciences Research Center at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, England, who is currently a visiting scholar in UCSD's Division of Biological Sciences, also contributed to the study.

Related Links
University of California, San Diego
The science and news of Epidemics on Earth

Gert van der Hoek · Dec 21, 2006

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

'Cholera' kills four in Kenya

20/12/2006 10:06 - (SA)

Nairobi - A suspected cholera outbreak has killed at least four people in northern Kenya, a region badly hit by flooding, say officials.

The outbreak, believed to have been caused by villagers drinking contaminated water, hit the Ijara area, near the region's provincial capital, Garissa, some 300km east of the capital, Nairobi.

Red Cross officials said the deaths brought the toll to 118 people killed by flood-related incidents across the country since unusually heavy seasonal rains began pounding the country in late October.

Special programmes minister John Munyes said: "We have received reports that four people have died in the Ijara district." He said the deaths were suspected to have been caused by cholera.

Flooding affects 700 000 people

Munyes said: "Doctors have been sent to conduct examinations ... But, we believe the deaths are linked to the current flooding in the area that has led to poor sanitation."

Earlier this month, the International Red Cross said it was seeking $21.9m for flood relief efforts in Kenya, in addition to $7.9m that had been appealed for by the Kenya Red Cross Society.

The flooding had affected about 700 000 people across the country.

http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_2047173,00.html

Johnny Yuma · Dec 21, 2006

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Many diseases have been ruled out:

http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=40006

Experts dispatched to asses mysterious fever in Garissa
Written By:Francis Gachuri , Posted: Thu, Dec 21, 2006

The government has immediately moved to Garissa in a bid to asses the mysterious fever that has hit the area, killing at least 12 people so far.

Health permanent secretary Dr Hezron Nyangito says so far, preliminary tests done by the Kenya medical research institute (KEMRI) has ruled out several fatal fevers haemorhagic including laser fever, yellow fever and Ebola.

Nyangito says by Thursday evening, a team of experts investigating the fever will have conclusively established the kind of fever that has hit Garissa and called for calm among the residents.

Speaking at the ministry headquarters after receiving immunization equipments and drugs from the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Nyangito said the recent floods that hit the area may have led to rapid breeding of mosquitoes that may be the cause of the mysterious fever.

He said his ministry has dispatched over 250,000 mosquito nets as initial measures to protect the residents from the mosquitoes and arrest the situation that has claimed 12 lives so far.

The chief medical specialist in the ministry Dr Shannaz Sharrif said a team of experts from the ministry and the KEMRI were already in Garissa and would establish the type of fever by this evening.

He urged area residents exhibiting symptoms such as severe headache, vomiting blood and rising body temperatures to seek immediate medical assistance.

Theresa42 · Dec 21, 2006

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Thank you, Toubib!

Gert van der Hoek · Dec 21, 2006

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Experts dispatched to asses mysterious fever in Garissa

Written By:Francis Gachuri , Posted: Thu, Dec 21, 2006

Caption: The government has immediately moved to Garissa in a bid to asses the mysterious fever that has hit the area, killing at least 12 people so far.

The governmnet has identified the disease affecting the people of Garrisa as the Rift Valley Hemorrhage fever.

Addressing the press Dr. Shariff said the fever is transmitted from cattle to human beings.

Shariff said the fever kills in 72 hours adding that it has no cure because its a virus.

He said the much the medics can do is to administer supportive treatment to the affected.

Earlier on, the government had immediately moved to Garissa in a bid to asses the mysterious fever that has hit the area, killing at least 12 people so far.

Health permanent secretary Dr Hezron Nyangito says so far, preliminary tests done by the Kenya medical research institute (KEMRI) has ruled out several fatal fevers haemorhagic including laser fever, yellow fever and Ebola.

Speaking at the ministry headquarters after receiving immunization equipments and drugs from the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Nyangito said the recent floods that hit the area may have led to rapid breeding of mosquitoes that may be the cause of the mysterious fever.

He said his ministry has dispatched over 250,000 mosquito nets as initial measures to protect the residents from the mosquitoes and arrest the situation that has claimed 12 lives so far.

The chief medical specialist in the ministry Dr Shannaz Sharrif said a team of experts from the ministry and the KEMRI were already in Garissa and would establish the type of fever by this evening.

He urged area residents exhibiting symptoms such as severe headache, vomiting blood and rising body temperatures to seek immediate medical assistance.

http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=40006

credits Ukmum

Gert van der Hoek · Dec 21, 2006

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Archive Number 20061221.3578
Published Date 21-DEC-2006
Subject PRO/AH/EDR> Viral hemorrhagic fever - Kenya (Garissa): susp

VIRAL HEMORRHAGIC FEVER - KENYA (GARISSA): SUSPECTED
****************************************************
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: Wed 20 Dec 2006
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
Source: Dr. S.K.Sharif <pphs@health.go.ke>

The Provincial Medical Officer of Health for North Eastern Province
has reported 11 deaths in Garissa District in North Eastern Province
of Kenya is possibly due to a viral hemorrhagic fever.

The 1st death was reported on 17 Dec 2006. The patient was admitted
to the Provincial General Hospital in Garissa and died within a few
hours of admission. The patient was from Fafi division of Garissa
District. Fafi Division is 40 kilometers from Garissa town. Other
deaths have been reported from Shanta Abak which is 140 km north of
Garissa, Shell Gulliet and Korakora.

Most deaths occurred outside the hospital. The clinical features were
fever, headache, vomiting blood, jaundice and most deaths occurred
within 24-72 hours of onset of symptoms. All the affected individuals
were aged 20-30 years and were cattle herdsmen. Investigations were
negative for malaria, Brucella, HBsAg and typhoid. There were reports
of cows and goats dying in Fafi division. The cattle presented with
fever, bloody diarrhea and skin rashes.

The area has been affected by the recent floods due to heavy rains
and most parts of the district are inaccessible by road. There is an
increase of mosquitoes in the area and the number of malaria cases
has increased in the last 2 weeks. Samples from patients have been
taken to KEMRI (Kenya Medical Research Institute) in Nairobi for
further serological tests.

--
Dr. S.K.Sharif
Chief Medical Specialist
Ministry of Health
Kenya
<pphs@health.go.ke>
<sksharif@africaonline.co.ke>

[Further information is sought concerning the extent and etiology of
this outbreak of suspected viral hemorrhagic fever affecting cattle
and cattle-herders in the northeastern region of Kenya around
Garissa. Northeastern Kenya has recently been affected by severe
flooding. The Red Cross reported on 20 Dec 2006
(<http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_2047173,00.html>)
that 118 people have died in flood-related incidents across the
country since unusually heavy seasonal rains began pounding the
country in late October. The new Red Cross figure brought to at
least 318 the total number of people killed by floods in Ethiopia,
Kenya and Somalia, all of which had been hit by torrential rains
expected to continue into January. Some deaths were due to
consumption of chlorinated water.

Hemorrhagic fevers known to occur in this region include Rift valley
fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. Any of these viruses or
another unknown agent could be responsible for this outbreak might
could be considered as candidates. Outbreaks of Rift Valley fever
have been associated with the aftermath of flooding and abundance of
mosquitoes, but mortality is moderate to low. Crimean-Congo
hemorrhagic fever virus causes outbreaks of lethal human disease and
the virus multiplies prolifically in domestic animals but is not
associated with illness. Outbreaks of disease caused by the highly
lethal filoviruses (Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus) have been restricted
so far to primates and bats.

Further information is awaited, in particular, confirmation that the
outbreak can be attributed to viral infection.

A map showing the location of Garrissa in the North Eastern Province
of Kenya can be found at
<http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/kenya.pdf>. -
Mod.CP]

[The combination of a haemorrhagic disease in humans with the
described disease in livestock is indeed highly indicative of Rift
valley fever, a disease initially described at the beginning of the
previous century in Kenya, and since known to occur in epizootics
once in 10 - 15 years, mainly following periods of excessive rains.

RVF may affect many animal species; its primary amplifying hosts are
sheep and cattle. The clinical signs vary with the age. In endemic
regions, it can be recognized by the high mortality in newborn
animals and abortions in adults; its mortality rate may reach 90 to
100 percent in neonates of sheep, and 10 to 70 percent in young
calves. The symptoms in adult sheep may include fever, a mucopurulent
nasal discharge (sometimes bloodstained), hemorrhagic or
foul-smelling diarrhea, vomiting, jaundice, abortion and an unsteady
gait. In adult cattle, fever, anorexia, weakness, excessive
salivation, fetid diarrhea, abortion and decreased milk production
may be seen. Similar but milder infections occur in goats. Infection
from animal to man may be direct, by exposure of humans to infected
material (typical cases will be the aerosol spread of blood particles
during slaughter, handling of aborted foeti, etc). The inderect route
will be by insect vectors, mainly mosquitoes. - Mod. AS]

[There was a major outbreak of RVF in Garissa in December 1997 --
there's a review of the outbreak in Emerging Infectious Diseases
<http://0-www.cdc.gov.mill1.sjlibrary.org/ncidod/EID/vol8no2/01-0023.htm>

Same location, same time of year, also associated with flooding and
with a higher incidence in the nomadic herdsmen in the area. There
was also a concurrent epizootic at the same time, with a high
incidence of loss of sheep and goats. There was also mention of
other livestock diseases that may have contributed to illness among
the livestock: "Human suffering from RVFV is compounded by the loss
of domestic animals. Livestock owners reported losses of
approximately 70% of their animals, with the greatest losses among
sheep and goats. Other infections thought to contribute to illness
among livestock during the flooding included nonspecific pneumonia,
pasteurellosis, contagious caprine pleuropneumonia, contagious
pustular dermatitis, bluetongue, foot rot, and complications of mange
(Field Mission of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations, unpub. data)." - Mod.MPP]

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/askus..._BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,35574

hawkeye · Dec 21, 2006

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Kenya: Killer Disease Identified As Rift Valley Fever
December 22, 2006
Posted to the web December 21, 2006

Mike Mwaniki
Nairobi

The disease that has killed 11 people and 40 animals in parts of North Eastern Province is Rift Valley Fever.

A senior deputy director of Medical Services, Dr Shanaaz Shariff, said yesterday that specimens of samples analysed at the Kenya Medical Research Institute and Centre for Disease laboratories in Nairobi had identified the killer disease.

The disease has killed seven people in Garissa and four others in Ijara District in the past three days.

In 1997, the disease outbreak killed 300 people and decimated hundreds of livestock in parts of the vast and arid province following heavy rains which led to flooding.

Rift Valley Fever is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes.

At one time, it was confined to sub-Saharan Africa and is predominantly found in domestic animals such as cattle, sheep and goats. It can also affect human beings exposed to infected animals.

In 1977, it suddenly flared up as a human infection in Egypt involving 200,000 people, out of which 600 died.

The human outbreak is attributed to a new virulent strain of the virus. The illness is characterised by fever, headaches and bleeding through the mouth and nose.

According to experts, there is no efficient vaccine which protects human beings but there is one available for animals.

Yesterday, speaking by telephone, Dr Shariff appealed to Kenyans not to panic, saying the situation was under control.

Rift Valley Fever was a rare viral disease, which is not so lethal since it was known not to kill all those it afflicted, he said.

"It is not as deadly as other viral diseases such as Ebola, Lassa, Marburg or Yellow fevers," the medic noted.

A medical team had also been dispatched from the ministry's headquarters to assist the local one in strengthening surveillance in the affected areas, he added.

"At the moment, only two suspected cases have been admitted to an isolation unit which has been set-up at the Garissa provincial general hospital," he said.
He added: "At the same time, the ministry has sent 240,000 treated nets for distribution to pastoralists in the area."

Dr Shariff said that an upsurge of malaria and outbreaks of cholera and other water-borne diseases had been reported in most parts of the country following heavy rains.

"However, the ministry has responded on time and ensured all the required drugs are in place."

Gert van der Hoek · Dec 22, 2006

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Some snips:

Kenya: Garissa Killer Disease Finally Identified

The East African Standard (Nairobi)

December 21, 2006
Posted to the web December 22, 2006

Elizabeth Mwai
Nairobi

The Government has identified the disease that has killed 11 people in Garissa.

The Health ministry Public Relations Officer, Mr Njeru Ngari, on Thursday said the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) had identified the disease as Rift Valley haemorrhagic fever.

The fever is mainly an animal disease, but can be transmitted to human beings through mosquitoes and raw milk.

There is a livestock vaccine against the fever, but none for humans.

Head of Preventive and Promotive Health Services, Dr Shahnaaz Sharif, said mosquitoes were transmitting the fever, especially to men.

"Most of the patients are aged between 20 and 30 and are men," Sharif said.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200612220120.html

Laidback Al · Dec 22, 2006

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Unidentified Disease

RIFT VALLEY FEVER - KENYA (GARISSA): CONFIRMED
**********************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases <http://www.isid.org>
[1]
Date: Thu 21 Dec 2006

From: ProMED-mail

Source: The Standard online, Thu 21 Dec 2006 [edited] <http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143962788>

An unidentified disease currently ravaging parts of Garissa District [see ProMED-mail post entitled: "Viral hemorrhagic fever - Kenya
(Garissa): susp. 20061221.3578"] has claimed 5 more people, pushing the death toll to 12.
Garissa Medical Officer of Health, Dr Abdullahi Abagira, confirmed the deaths. He said the disease, which affects both livestock and human beings, was highly contagious and was already taking a high toll on the herdsmen in grazing fields, where the 1st case was reported last week. Seven people died from the disease in Shanta Abaq and Fafi areas, where hundreds of livestock have also succumbed.
The MOH said the animals are exhibiting similar symptoms as human beings but not as severe. Three herdsmen died on arrival at the Garissa Provincial General Hospital. Nurses told "The Standard" that efforts to resuscitate the bleeding patients were not successful.
Most of the victims experienced high fever, swollen limbs, diarrhoea and vomited blood. Abagira convened a crisis meeting on Wednesday to map out modalities of containing the outbreak amid fears that the disease could spread further. And medics from the African Medical and Research foundation (AMRF) jetted into the area in a bid to unravel the disease.
[Byline: Victor Obure and Adow Jubat]
******
[2]
Date: Fri 22 Dec 2006

From: ProMED-mail

Source: The Standard online, Fri 22 Dec 2006 [edited]
Source: <http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143962842>

The Government has identified the disease that has killed 11 people in Garissa. The Health ministry Public Relations Officer, Mr Njeru Ngari, said on Thu 21 Dec 2006 that the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) had identified the disease as Rift Valley haemorrhagic fever.
Consequently, Health minister Mrs Charity Ngilu and her Livestock counterpart, Mr Joseph Munyao, will meet on Friday morning [22 Dec 2006] to discuss ways of managing the disease. The fever is mainly an animal disease, but can be transmitted to human beings through mosquitoes and raw milk. There is a livestock vaccine against the fever, but none for humans. Head of Preventive and Promotive Health Services,
Dr Shahnaaz Sharif said mosquitoes were transmitting the fever, especially to humans. "Most of the patients are aged between 20 and 30 and are men," Sharif said. Speaking at a press briefing at the Ministry of Health headquarters, Sharif said the major symptoms of the disease are fever, headache, vomiting and abdominal pains. He attributed the outbreak to the floods in North Eastern Province. The ministry has started distributing 240 000 mosquito nets to residents.
[Byline: Elizabeth Mwai]
--
ProMED-mail

[The prediction by ProMED-mail moderators that the unidentified disease afflicting cattle-herders and their animals in the North Eastern Province of Kenya would prove to be an outbreak of Rift Valley fever has now been confirmed.
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an acute, fever-causing viral disease that affects domestic animals (such as cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and
camels) and humans. RVF is most commonly associated with mosquito-borne epidemics during years of unusually heavy rainfall.
The disease is caused by the RVF virus, a member of the genus _Phlebovirus_ in the family _Bunyaviridae_. The disease was first reported among livestock by veterinary officers in Kenya in the early 1900s. and has since been recorded throughout East Africa and the Middle East.
A detailed account of the epidemiology of Rift Valley fever can be found at the CDC web-site (<http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/rvf.htm>), and a map of the North Eastern Province of Kenya can be found at <http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/kenya.pdf>. - Mod.CP]
[Unfortunately, once again, humans play sentinels for a (severe) zoonotic disease, which is also a transboundary disease. This is a reminder for the urgent need to improve animal health surveillance by the strengthening of veterinary infrastructures in eastern and other parts of Africa.
Laboratory confirmation, followed by official notification, are anticipated. - Mod.AS]
[see also:
Viral hemorrhagic fever - Kenya (Garissa): susp 20061221.3578
2004
----
Rift Valley fever - Saudi Arabia (Jizan)(09): OIE 20041003.2723 Rift Valley fever - Saudi Arabia (Jizan): suspected 20040907.2500
2003
----
Rift Valley fever, sheep, goat - Senegal: OIE 20031122.2901 Rift Valley Fever - Mauritania: OIE 20031020.2635 Rift Valley fever, human - Egypt (02) 20030902.2205 Rift Valley fever - Egypt 20030827.2158 Rift Valley fever, livestock, human - Mauritania: OIE 20030105.0034
2002
----
Rift Valley fever, sheep, goat - Senegal: OIE (02) 20021226.6130 Rift Valley fever, sheep and goat - Senegal: OIE 20021221.6107
1998
----
Rift Valley fever - Kenya & Somalia (07) 19981228.2447 Rift Valley fever - Kenya 19980721.1373 Rift Valley fever - Kenya & Somalia (04) 19980413.0676 Rift Valley fever - Kenya (Nairobi) 19980217.0309 Rift Valley fever - Kenya and Somalia (03) 19980131.0200 Rift Valley fever - Kenya and Somalia (02) 19980128.0190 Rift Valley fever - Kenya & Somalia: RFI 19980121.0166] ............................tg/cp/pg/arn/lm

Gert van der Hoek · Dec 29, 2006

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Rift Valley Fever

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Rift Valley Fever

Archive Number 20061228.3643
Published Date 28-DEC-2006
Subject PRO/AH/EDR> Rift Valley fever - Kenya (Garissa) (05)

RIFT VALLEY FEVER - KENYA (GARISSA) (05)
****************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mailis a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Thu 28 Dec 2006
From: Mary Marshall <tropical.forestry@btinternet.com>
Source: IRIN News org East Africa, Thu 28 Dec 2006 [edited]
<http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56866>

The Rift Valley Fever (RVF) outbreak that has killed dozens of people
in northeastern Kenya could threaten the livelihoods of pastoralists
living in the semi-arid province, after the government imposed
quarantine on local livestock.

At least 28 people have died from the disease since it was reported 2 weeks ago.

Hundreds of animals, mostly goats, in Fafi, Jarajila and Shanta Abak -- considered the epicentre of the outbreak -- have also died. Other areas affected are Korakora, Shanta Abak, Shell Gulliet and Shimbirey, all near Garissa.

The ban on movement of livestock -- aimed at containing the spread of
the disease -- comes just days before celebrations to mark the New
Year and Eid-Ul-Adha, a religious occasion marking the end of the
Hajj, in which Muslims are expected to slaughter animals.

On Wednesday, local leaders in the provincial capital, Garissa,
appealed to the government to declare the RVF outbreak and recent
floods in the region a national disaster, saying the disease had
negatively affected the welfare of the province's residents. They
said the quarantine would affect their revenue because they could not
collect on livestock sales.

Calling for emergency medical and food aid, Garissa Mayor, Siyat
Osman, said pastoralists in the affected areas were starving after
heeding the government's advice not to consume products from infected
animals.

But the chief medical officer in Garissa, Shahnaaz Sharif,
said health officials had held a meeting with religious leaders to
advise residents on the dangers of slaughtering livestock at home.

"We expect that more than 20 000 goats will be slaughtered in the
province at the end of the month to mark religious festivities," he
said. "It is important that this is not done at home to reduce the
risk of humans contracting the disease."

The disease was first identified in Kenya in 1931. The World Health
Organisation (WHO) says it occurs in epidemics in animals in Africa
and is associated with spontaneous abortions in sheep, goats, cattle,
camels, and deaths in young animals.

It can be transmitted to humans via mosquitoes or through contact with infected animal material, such as blood or other body fluids, or organs. Consumption of milk, a staple for many pastoral people, is also thought to lead to infection.

Following the latest outbreak, Kenya's health ministry is carrying
out clinical case management, surveillance and social mobilisation
activities, as well as mosquito net distribution.

The aim is to reduce the risk of animal-to-human transmission via unprotected animal husbandry and slaughter practices. The government also has 100 000 doses of animal vaccine.

--
Mary Marshall
<tropical.forestry@btinternet.com>

[The death toll in the Rift Valley fever outbreak in the North East
Province of Kenya has increased from 24 to 28 in the last few hours
and seems likely to increase.
A detailed account of the epidemiology of Rift Valley fever can be
found at the CDC web-site

(<http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/rvf.htm>),

and
a map of the North Eastern Province of Kenya can be found at
<http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/kenya.pdf>.

The material contained on <http://www.IRINnews.org> comes via IRIN, a
UN humanitarian news and information service, but may not necessarily
reflect the views of the United Nations or its agencies. - Mod.CP]

[The temporary closure of abattoirs might indeed help in protecting
their workers from exposure to RVFV infection. However, animals --
particularly sheep -- intended for commercial, veterinary-controlled
slaughter, might join the numerous animals finding their way to
uncontrolled ritual home slaughter during the coming Eid-ul Adha (31
Dec 2006 - 2 Jan 2007) celebrations.

It will be extremely difficult to convince devout Muslims not to perform the traditional sacrifice ("Qurban") which commemorates Abraham's sacrifice of Ismael. A rather efficient step in controlling RVF in animals and subsequently
reducing human exposure would be mass vaccination of domestic
ruminants. Unfortunately, the results of such an operation might only
be seen several weeks following vaccination. - Mod. AS].

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/prome..._BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,35656

Gert van der Hoek · Jan 2, 2007

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Rift Valley Fever

Re: Kenya: 11 Killed By Rift Valley Fever

Kenya: Rift Valley Fever Death Toll Hits 50

The East African Standard (Nairobi)

December 31, 2006
Posted to the web January 1, 2007

Boniface Ongeri And Ali Abdi
Nairobi

Four people have died of Rift Valley fever in Wajir District, raising the death toll to 50.

Three other people were reported to have died of a disease suspected to be the deadly fever in the neighbouring Isiolo District.

It was the first time deaths from the disease were reported in the two districts bordering Garissa District, where it has claimed 46 lives.

North Eastern Provincial Medical Officer of Health, Dr Ahmed Omar, confirmed that the four Wajir residents died of the contagious disease.

Omar said two people died in Burder location and the other two in Habaswein location. The two areas are in Wajir South constituency that borders Garissa District where the disease has claimed 46 lives in two weeks.

Health experts sent to collect samples

The news of the deaths in Wajir led to a meeting of the District Steering Group (DSG) to discuss ways of curbing the spread of the disease.

DSG members comprise departmental heads and NGO officials.

"We anticipated an outbreak of waterborne diseases including cholera but not the killer Rift Valley fever," the District Medical Officer of Health, Dr Ahmeddin Omar, said.

A team of public health officers led by Mr Mohamed Kato went round Wajir town with loud speakers sensitising the residents about the dangers of the disease.

In Isiolo, the three, who died last week, were from two divisions neighbouring Garissa.

On Sunday, Isiolo District Medical Officer of Health, Dr Joel Egalia, told The Standard on telephone that a team of health experts had been sent to Modogashe and Sericho to collect blood samples from malaria patients and dead livestock.

The team, he said, had not communicated their results, as the areas were remote.

Councillors Hussein Abduba (Modogashe) and Ali Boru (Sericho) claimed the victims had symptoms of the deadly fever that had hit neighbouring Garissa District.

Slaughtering of livestock banned

An Action Aid official, Mr Ibrahim Kosi, said a herdsman, Hussein Rendille, bled to death at a village in Modogashe last Friday.

"He initially had malaria and fever. Last Friday, he started bleeding from the nose and mouth and within minutes, he died," said Kosi.

Boru said two women-Zeinab Gollo and Nuria Huka -died at Sericho trading centre last week of a disease whose symptoms are similar to that of Rift Valley fever.

Egalia said he had received the reports of the deaths but could not attribute them to the deadly fever until tests verified.

"We cannot conclusively say they died from Rift Valley fever until we conduct tests from the affected villages," said the doctor.

The MOH said the experts led by the District Public Health Officer, Mr Wario Salah, would interview villagers and take blood samples from both humans and livestock.

The Government has banned slaughtering of livestock in the region following the outbreak.

However, some residents had not taken the ban seriously. On Saturday, during celebrations to mark Idd Ul Hajj, some Wajir residents ignored the ban and slaughtered goats.

A survey on local hotels on Sunday, however, showed that they were serving meals without any meat - a staple food in the area.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200701010004.html

Kenya: Rift Valley Fever (600+ deaths)

Retired in 2010, In Memoriam

In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator

Retired in 2010, In Memoriam

In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator

Retired in 2010, In Memoriam

Retired in 2010, In Memoriam

Retired in 2010, In Memoriam

In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator

In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator

Well-known member

In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator

Well-known member

Well-known member

In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator

In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator

Well-known member

In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator

Well-known member

In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator

In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator