Five die after outbreak of Rift Valley Fever in Kenya

FIVE people in Kenya have died of the Rift Valley Fever disease in the past week, in the first reports of the disease since an outbreak killed more than 200 people a decade ago.

The highly contagious disease is transmitted to humans by mosquitoes or close contact with contaminated animals’ blood or organs, according to the World Health Organisation.

Abdihakim Billow, county executive committee member for health for Wajir County in northeastern Kenya where the deaths were reported, said two people died in hospital while the other three died at home. The first death occurred last Monday.

Billow said another two people thought to be ill from the disease had been admitted to hospital.

With no specific treatment or effective human vaccine, Rift Valley Fever can cause blindness and severe haemorrhaging, leading the victim to vomit blood or even bleed to death.