At least nine people have died from an outbreak of a mysterious condition in Kenya.
80 others have been hospitalised from the mysterious disease in northern Kenya’s Marsabit county.
Reports say out of the nine people who have died, six were adults and three were children between one and three years.
The local media reported that most of the affected people exhibited flu-like symptoms, yellow eyes, swollen spleen and severe headaches.
Some patients have tested positive for malaria but medics say visceral leishmaniasis – also known as kala-azar disease – cannot be ruled out.
“We have lost nine people so far and at least 80 others are bedridden in the villages in connection to a mysterious disease outbreak. I appeal for an urgent intervention by all stakeholders before we lose the entire population,” Kargi Senior Chief, Moses Galoro was quoted by Daily Nation as saying.
Visceral leishmaniasis is characterized by irregular bouts of fever, weight loss, enlargement of the spleen and liver, and anaemia.
It can be fatal if left untreated in over 95% of cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The outbreak comes two months after the Kenya Medical Research Institute detected an invasive mosquito species in Laisamis and Saku areas of Marsabit county.
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Source: Africafeeds.com
