Nairobi (Halbeeg) – Mandera authorities are planning to impose a ban on meat and milk following the outbreak of Rift Valley Fever in its neighbouring Wajir County.
The administration of the town sent human blood samples to the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) in Nairobi for testing.
The director of county public health services Abukar Abdi Sheikh said the health officials and local authorities agreed to dispatch veterinarians and doctors to check the health of animals slaughtered at the butcheries.
“We are on alert due to high risk of suffering from a range of hemorrhage diseases which are already being reported in the neighbouring county,” said Mr. Sheikh.
The veterinary department this week rolled out plans to enhance surveillance, institute ring vaccination, increase public awareness, quarantine livestock, restrict home slaughter and close livestock markets to control the spread of RVF.
The department said prolonged heavy rainfall and increased vegetation in some places in the region had led to increased vector breeding, and urged residents to sleep under treated mosquito nets to avoid infections from the deadly mosquitoes.
Health officials in Mayor town of former Northern Frontier District reported death total of 14 camels died while 12 camels aborted.
Residents in affected areas have been advised to feed only on inspected livestock products including meat, milk and blood.
RVF is a mosquito-borne viral zoonosis, which periodically causes disease outbreaks in humans and livestock and is known to have been endemic in sub-Saharan Africa since 1912.
Patients usually experience fever, generalized weakness, back pain, and dizziness at the onset of the illness and weight loss.
In animals, sheep and cattle may have nasal discharge, excess salivation, and loss of appetite, weakness, or diarrhea.
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