BLOGS
No meat or milk for the residents of Wajir county.
A man waiting to sell his cows in Wajir town, (Courtesy)
WAJIR—Wajir County department of Health has banned meat and milk consumption in Eldas and Wajir West sub-counties after an outbreak of Rift Valley fever.
This comes after one of two human samples sent to Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) tested positive for the virus.
Rift Valley Fever (RVF) 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.
The fever was first reported on the weekend and on Monday, a task force made up of the national and county government officials was established to respond to the outbreak.
Daily and weekly reports will be released. “We are placing Wajir and all the affected areas under surveillance. There will be no more referring of patients. Once they have been diagnosed, they will be treated at the local facilities to stop its spread,” Billow, Wajir health minister said.
“We have effected a ban on meat and milk consumption in Eldas and Wajir West sub-counties and up-scaling of food quality control in the other four sub-counties as a measure to prevent further spread,” Billow added.
He spoke to the press in Wajir town on Friday at his Afya house when he presented a situational report.
Over 40 camel and goats are also reported to have died of the viral disease in the county.
The virus was first identified in 1931 during an epidemic among sheep on a farm in the Rift Valley of Kenya. Since then, outbreaks have been reported in sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, and in 2000 Saudi Arabia and Yemen, marking the first reported occurrence of the disease outside the African continent, raising concerns that it could extend to other parts of Asia and Europe.
As the Eid festivities near, it remains to be seen if the department would prevent more casualties.
