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Mandera County on high alert following the death of 5 in RVF outbreak in Wajir
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Mandera County health secretary Okash Adan addressing the press at his office. He urged the general public to be very vigilant on this matter. PHOTO: Kulan Post
MANDERA—Mandera County is on high alert following the outbreak of Rift Valley in the neighboring Wajir County.
Addressing the press at his office on Monday, the County secretary of health Okash Adan urged the general public to be proactive, vigilant and to immediately report any signs and symptoms of the disease at the prevention desks established across the 7 Sub counties.
“We have decided to take this early opportunity to caution our livestock keepers to be on high alert considering that this disease has already caused deaths in Wajir,” he said.
Mandera county is classified as a medium risk area for the Rift Valley Fever (RVF), however the pastoral communities and the general public who reside along the border with the neighboring Wajir County such as as Shirshir, Ogorweyn, Elram, Boji Garse, Kutulo, Burmayo, Didkuro, Dandu and El Danaba have been advised to be very vigilant for signs of the RVF.
Mandera Director for Veterinary Services Claudio Sortum has said no incident was reported in the county, but the outbreak in Wajir is worrying.
Mr Sortum has also called on residents in areas bordering Wajir to be on the lookout for signs of the disease, which affects both livestock and humans.
“We have announced closure of all slaughter houses in areas bordering Wajir until we eradicate the threat. The situation is classified as medium risk,” he said.
Rift Valley Fever is caused by a virus transmitted by mosquitoes and blood-feeding flies that usually affects animals (commonly cattle and sheep) but can also involve humans.
When livestock are infected the disease can cause significant economic losses due to high mortality rate in young animals and waves of abortions in pregnant females.
Already, the disease has claimed five lives in Wajir and tens of livestock since it was first reported last month.
