Marsabit County Reports Outbreak of Rift Valley Fever

MARSABIT – Marsabit County is facing a serious health challenge following the confirmation of an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever (RVF).

According to Kenya News Agency, four out of 43 analyzed samples from the region have tested positive for the virus. Marsabit County Deputy Governor, Solomon Gubo, disclosed these findings during a County Steering Group meeting at Jirme Hotel. He highlighted that two livestock cases were also confirmed positive for RVF through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing, out of eight samples sent to KEMRI.

The confirmed human cases all originate from the Shurr area in the Turbi-Bubisa Ward of North Horr Constituency, a region that has also experienced numerous animal abortions recently. Gubo expressed concerns over the capacity of the local government to manage the outbreak, calling for urgent intervention from the National Government and other partners. He outlined ongoing measures to educate residents on avoiding contact with potentially sick animals and eliminating mosquito breeding grounds.

In addition to RVF, Gubo revealed an increase in malaria cases in Saku and Moyale Sub-counties. Despite these areas not being typically prone to malaria, efforts to control mosquito populations have been intensified, including spraying households and encouraging the use of mosquito nets.

Grace Galmo, Marsabit County’s Executive Member for Health, reported that all confirmed RVF cases were treated as outpatients, with no hospital admissions or deaths. Galmo attributed the outbreak to recent El-Nino rains, which have led to an increase in mosquito populations responsible for transmitting the virus from livestock to humans. More samples are being sent to KEMRI for analysis to determine the extent of the spread. Galmo also emphasized the challenges faced in combating the outbreak, including a lack of resources for health department necessities such as nets, vaccines, and drugs. She noted that five of the 43 affected individuals were children under ten years old, and disease surveillance has been intensified across the county.

The news of the outbreak in Marsabit comes as two cases of RVF were also reported in neighboring Wajir County. Meanwhile, Isaac Mwaura, the government spokesperson, announced that the Ministry of Health has distributed 1.2 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets nationwide as part of the response to the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.