Board of Directors Urges Counties to Allocate Funds for Fighting RVF :: Kenya

The Kenya Veterinary Board (KVB) has urged counties to allocate more money to combat Rift Valley Fever (RVF) in Wajir, Tana River, Garissa and Isiolo counties.

According to Dr. Christopher Wanga, President of KVB, although the recent outbreak in these counties is now under control, more funds are needed to fight the disease.

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"The KVB has ordered all veterinary technicians and the entire team to quarantine animals affected by the disease to limit the spread of the disease because Is the only way to other parts of the country, "said Dr. Wanga.

KVB, he said, has a limited budget that can sustainably sustain the fight against the disease, adding that the board of directors is eager to work closely with the counties to secure the disease. ensure that farmers have access to vaccines.

KVB plans to establish regional offices in Nyeri, Garissa, Nakuru, Kakamega and Mombasa to make the board more accessible to farmers.

Rift Valley fever epidemics are not uncommon in Kenya. The last documented outbreak occurred from November 2014 to January 2015 in northeastern Kenya; in 2006, a major epidemic killed more than 150 people.

Rift Valley Fever is a mosquito-borne viral zoonosis that primarily affects animals, but that also has the ability to infect humans. The majority of human infections result from direct or indirect contact with infected blood or animal organs. Breeders, farmers, slaughterhouse workers and veterinarians have an increased risk of infection. Awareness of the risk factors for Rift Valley Fever infection and measures to prevent mosquito bites is the only way to reduce human infections and deaths.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), outbreaks of RVF in animals can be prevented through a sustained program of animal vaccination. Live attenuated viral vaccines and inactivated vaccines have been developed for veterinary purposes.

A single dose of the live vaccine is needed to provide long-term immunity, but this vaccine can result in spontaneous abortion when administered to pregnant animals. The inactivated virus vaccine does not have this side effect, but multiple doses are needed to provide protection that can prove problematic in endemic areas.

Vaccination of animals must be put in place before an epidemic if an epizootic is to be prevented. Once an outbreak has occurred, vaccination of animals should NOT be implemented because there is a high risk of intensifying hatching.

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As outbreaks of RVF in animals precede human cases, setting up an active animal health surveillance system to detect new cases is essential for veterinary and human authorities.

[Rading Biko:[email protected]]