GARISSA, Kenya, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Kenya has banned the transport and slaughter of livestock in a northeastern province where a viral fever has killed 24 people in the last two weeks, officials said on Wednesday.
Rift Valley Fever, which causes victims to vomit blood or bleed to death, is passed to humans from livestock by mosquito bites or by handling contaminated animal fluids.
"One death was reported today. The death toll is now 24," Garissa district medical officer Abdullahi Abagira told Reuters.
As many as 20,000 animals were due to be slaughtered in the coming days for a Muslim festival, but abattoirs were told to close temporarily in a bid to stop the disease spreading.
"We have taken the measures to contain the spread of the disease and for fear of a flare-up during the festive season," Abagira said. "The ban will continue until all the animals are vaccinated."
Rift Valley Fever, which reportedly killed hundreds of people in a 1997-1998 outbreak in the area, has now been reported in all three districts of the remote province, which is mainly populated by nomadic groups.
