Relief as meat ban is lifted in Wajir county

Wajir meat traders and residents can now sigh with relief after the meat ban was lifted.(Courtesy)

By Kevin Kyalo

WAJIR—Wajir meat traders and residents now have something to celebrate about after the ban on meat and milk consumption has been lifted.

This comes a month later after the ban was foisted in the county due to the outbreak of Rift Valley Fever (RVF).

Speaking to the press on Thursday, the county Health Chief Officer Abdirahman Mathow said the disease has been contained and no new case has been reported in three weeks.

“RVF has been contained but lifting of the ban is subject to review should the situation change, noted Mr Mathow.

“A majority of the cases reported in the past few weeks involved victims who come into contact with meat and many of them either slaughtered animals or assisted them in giving birth,” added the county Health Chief Officer.

He maintained that the task force formed to stop RVF from spreading reached the decision to lift the ban on Thursday after they were able to curtail the movement of livestock in areas most hit by the fever.

The death toll in the county stands at six.

Hundreds of camels, goats and sheep have also died in the county since the outbreak that was first reported in parts of Eldas and Wajir West constituencies.

The ban has had a negative impact on the people of Wajir who depend on pastoralism as their main means of livelihood.

The restriction of handling or selling meat and milk was imposed on the 7th of June.

The Kenya Veterinary Board chairman Christopher Wanga has asked the government to provide more funds to support emergency response in dealing with an outbreak of Rift Valley fever in several counties across the country.

The most hit counties reported are Wajir, Isiolo, Meru and Marsabit. In Mandera and Tana River counties no one has succumbed to the disease but test taken to KEMRI from livestock tested positive for the virus.

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.