Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
Week 46: 7 - 13 November 2022
Data as reported by: 17:00; 13 November 2022
...
Visceral leishmaniasis Kenya
2 048 cases
10 Deaths
0.5% CFR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
Kenya has been facing an outbreak of visceral leishmaniasis
which has affected nine counties namely: Baringo, Garissa, Kitui,
Isiolo Marsabit, Mandera, Tharaka Nithi West Pokot, and Wajir,
since January 2020. The outbreak is currently active in four
counties: Isiolo, Kitui, West Pokot, and Wajir). A total of 2 048
cases including 1 867 confirmed by rapid diagnostic tests and
10 deaths (case fatality ratio (CFR) = 0.5%) have been reported
from January 2022 through October 2022 (week 43). Regarding
deaths reported, four were reported from Marsabit, three from
Garissa and three from Wajir. No death has been reported in 2022.
Most cases have been reported from West Pokot County with
938 cases (45.8%, 938/2 048), followed by Wajir with 423 cases
(20.6%) and Kitui with 220 cases (10.7%). Mandera County has
reported the least number with 17 cases (0.8%).
The first case for the ongoing outbreak was detected on 3 January
2020 in Marsabit County and the last case was seen on 29 October
2022 in West Pokot. During the last week of the reporting period
(week 43), 11 new cases were reported from West Pokot County.
Cases have been reported throughout the reporting period (see
epi-curve) with a peak in number of cases reported during
week 48, 2021 signifying good case detection and reporting
performance.
The county health departments are undertaking enhanced
surveillance activities, case detection, confirmation, and
management.
Community awareness and sensitization are ongoing in the
affected areas.
Sensitization and supportive supervision of health care
workers on the disease are also ongoing
The National government through the Division of NonTransmissible
Diseases distributes on regular basis stocks of
visceral leishmaniasis commodities to the affected Counties.
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
Kenya is endemic to visceral leishmaniasis, and the disease
remains a public health problem with outbreaks reported
frequently in the arid and semi-arid areas. The ongoing outbreak
is considered as one of the longest ever experienced by the
country. The low case fatality ratio (0.5%) with zero death
reported this year, 2022 may be considered as a positive impact
of previous outbreak management experience. Although the case
detection and confirmation performances seem acceptable for
the moment, more resources are needed for the country to keep
up the dynamic and also deal with other ongoing emergencies,
in particular the drought which is raging the north-Eastern part
of the country.
...
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/364584/OEW46-0713112022.pdf
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
Week 46: 7 - 13 November 2022
Data as reported by: 17:00; 13 November 2022
...
Visceral leishmaniasis Kenya
2 048 cases
10 Deaths
0.5% CFR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
Kenya has been facing an outbreak of visceral leishmaniasis
which has affected nine counties namely: Baringo, Garissa, Kitui,
Isiolo Marsabit, Mandera, Tharaka Nithi West Pokot, and Wajir,
since January 2020. The outbreak is currently active in four
counties: Isiolo, Kitui, West Pokot, and Wajir). A total of 2 048
cases including 1 867 confirmed by rapid diagnostic tests and
10 deaths (case fatality ratio (CFR) = 0.5%) have been reported
from January 2022 through October 2022 (week 43). Regarding
deaths reported, four were reported from Marsabit, three from
Garissa and three from Wajir. No death has been reported in 2022.
Most cases have been reported from West Pokot County with
938 cases (45.8%, 938/2 048), followed by Wajir with 423 cases
(20.6%) and Kitui with 220 cases (10.7%). Mandera County has
reported the least number with 17 cases (0.8%).
The first case for the ongoing outbreak was detected on 3 January
2020 in Marsabit County and the last case was seen on 29 October
2022 in West Pokot. During the last week of the reporting period
(week 43), 11 new cases were reported from West Pokot County.
Cases have been reported throughout the reporting period (see
epi-curve) with a peak in number of cases reported during
week 48, 2021 signifying good case detection and reporting
performance.
The county health departments are undertaking enhanced
surveillance activities, case detection, confirmation, and
management.
Community awareness and sensitization are ongoing in the
affected areas.
Sensitization and supportive supervision of health care
workers on the disease are also ongoing
The National government through the Division of NonTransmissible
Diseases distributes on regular basis stocks of
visceral leishmaniasis commodities to the affected Counties.
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
Kenya is endemic to visceral leishmaniasis, and the disease
remains a public health problem with outbreaks reported
frequently in the arid and semi-arid areas. The ongoing outbreak
is considered as one of the longest ever experienced by the
country. The low case fatality ratio (0.5%) with zero death
reported this year, 2022 may be considered as a positive impact
of previous outbreak management experience. Although the case
detection and confirmation performances seem acceptable for
the moment, more resources are needed for the country to keep
up the dynamic and also deal with other ongoing emergencies,
in particular the drought which is raging the north-Eastern part
of the country.
...
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/364584/OEW46-0713112022.pdf