Date: Sun 25 Jun 2000
Wajir District Medical Officer of Health, Dr Muktar Sheikh Omar said the
Dr Omar told the Nation that the disease, transmitted, by sandflies
He added that victims of visceral leishmaniasis would have fever and
Dr Omar disclosed that 4 victims of the disease who had been treated at the
The MOH disclosed that already teams of experts from the Kenya Medical
--
[Visceral leishmaniasis is caused by a blood-borne parasite, transmitted by
From: ProMED-mail
Source: The Nation (Nairobi), 22 Jun 2000 [edited]
Three people have died in the past 3 days in Wajir District, Kenya, while
more than 20 others are seriously ill in hospital following an outbreak of
visceral leishmaniasis (kalazar).
disease was wreaking havoc in the district currently reeling from the
effects of a severe drought. He said that the disease was first reported
from the Khorof Harau and Wajir-bor areas of eastern Wajir.
affected the blood-forming tissues such as the lymph nodes, the liver,
spleen and marrow.
enlargement of the liver, lymph nodes and spleen before bleeding through
the nose and finally succumbing.
Wajir District Hospital were discharged yesterday. The others died while
undergoing treatment at the same hospital. He said the large size of the
district and shortage of health facilities was causing concern that the
actual death toll could be higher.
Research Institute (KEMRI) and the Division of vector borne diseases have
been flown to the district to survey the scope of the deadly disease.
ProMED-mail
the bite of phlebotomine flies (sandflies). - Mod.JW]