Reuters AlertNet Lite - KENYA: Livestock vaccination stems spread of RVF

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

KENYA: Livestock vaccination stems spread of RVF

06 Mar 2007 15:15:19 GMT
Source: IRIN

NAIROBI, 6 March (IRIN) - An ongoing livestock vaccination campaign against an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) has stemmed the spread of the disease in Kenya, where the mosquito-borne illness, which affects both animals and humans, has killed 154 people since December 2006, officials said on Tuesday.

"We have not received any new (livestock) cases although our extension officers are still carrying out surveillance in the affected districts," said William Maritim, senior veterinary officer with the disease control unit of the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries.

At least 1.5 million livestock (cattle, sheep, and goats) are targeted for vaccination in the ongoing campaign in 33 districts where RVF cases have been reported. The worst affected districts were Garissa, Ijara and Wajir in Northeastern Province, Tana River and Kilifi districts in Coast Province, and Kirinyaga and Maragwa districts in Central Province.

"We are also in the process of procuring an additional 750,000 doses of vaccine to sustain the exercise," Maritim said.

The vaccination project, which began in Garissa on 8 January, is moving towards the Rift Valley Province, where the disease was first reported in 1931. RVF causes spontaneous abortions and death in animals.

Most of the vaccines have been imported from South Africa at approximately US$0.37 a dose.

The RVF virus is spread to humans from livestock via the aedes mosquito, which breeds rapidly during floods. The Northeastern Province, inhabited by nomadic pastoralists, was hit by devastating floods in the last three months of 2006 after heavier than normal rainfall.

It can be transmitted through contact with infected animal material, such as blood or other body fluids, or organs. Consumption of milk, a staple for many pastoral people, is also thought to lead to infection. Symptoms in humans include bleeding through the nose and mouth, and liver failure.

The government imposed a ban on the slaughter of livestock in the affected areas when RVF was first reported, leading to the closure of livestock markets in a region where people depend on animals for income and food. The ban has since been lifted, but a restriction on livestock movement is still in force.

aw/jn/mw

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• Kenya profile
· View map

• South Africa profile
· View map

MORE >>

NGO latest

• AJWS Grantees Featured at United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
AJWS - USA

• MSF study shows good outcomes for second-line AIDS treatment in resource-poor settings
MSF International

• New for 2007
World Response - UK

• Somalia: ICRC calls for protection of civilians caught up in clashes in Mogadishu
ICRC - Switzerland

• LOCAL GROUP FIGHTS AFRICA FAMINE WITH 10 MILLION MEALS, ENOUGH FOR "ALL OF NEW YORK CITY AND A HUNK OF NEW JERSEY"
WER - USA

MORE >>

Latest news

• KENYA: Livestock vaccination stems spread of RVF

• UNHCR seeks US$56.1 million for repatriation of southern Sudanese

• INTERVIEW-Business fears complacency in global AIDS fight

• Zimbabwe bus and train collision kills 34

• U.N. seeks to speed return of refugees to S. Sudan

MORE >>

Last updated:Tue Mar 6 15:18:05 2007