There is an outbreak of Yellow Fever in Kenya. This is a deadly disease that is spread by mosquitoes. According to the Ministry of Health, three Kenyans have already died from the disease in Isiolo County.
In total, 15 Kenyans are suspected to have the disease but only three cases have been confirmed. All the confirmed cases are in Isiolo. The Ministry of Health says plans are being put in place to contain the situation.
“The first case was detected on 12th January 2022. To date, 15 patients presenting with fever, jaundice, muscle pain, and joint pain have been line-listed; the youngest being 11 years and the oldest being 65 years,” said the Ministry of Health.
Kenyans are however surprised that the Ministry is disclosing the information just now despite the fact that the first case was detected on January 12, 2022. Why didn’t the Ministry issue a red alert as soon the first case was detected?
The symptoms of yellow fever include fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. A small proportion of patients who contract the virus develop severe symptoms and approximately half of those die within 7 to 10 days.
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The “yellow” in the name refers to jaundice that affects some patients.
According to the World Health Organization, Yellow fever is prevented by an extremely effective vaccine, which is safe and affordable. A single dose of yellow fever vaccine is sufficient to grant sustained immunity and life-long protection against yellow fever disease.
A booster dose of the vaccine is not needed. The vaccine provides effective immunity within 10 days for 80-100 percent of people vaccinated, and within 30 days for more than 99 percent of people vaccinated. Eyes are now on the Ministry of Health in Kenya to see how it will handle the situation. Meanwhile, be on the lookout.
