WAJIR: Kala-Azar Outbreak Kills 20 As Gov’t Rushes To Combat Spread
Wajir County has sent a specialized health team to Eldas and Wajir West for a 10-day fumigation and spraying operation to combat the development of Kala-azar.
Since September of last year, the sickness has killed nine people and sickened more than 500 others.
The county’s health service has selected 6,000 families in the most affected areas, where efforts are being stepped up to eradicate sandflies, the principal carriers of the disease-causing microorganism.
“We aim to reach at least 6,000 households in this intervention. The outbreak has been worsened by recent floods, which created conditions ideal for sandflies to breed,” said Mohamed Hassan Maalim, the County Director for Public Health.
Kala-azar kills 18 in Wajir
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) March 20, 2025
Kala-azar has killed 18 people in the past three months
Over 500 cases reported across four sub-counties
Ali: The outbreak of this endemic disease is severe
Ahmed: Multiple treatment centers have been set up
#CitizenTonight@SamGituku pic.twitter.com/ap35f5sBrE
Health officials have warned residents to take precautions and seek quick medical assistance if they encounter sickness symptoms.
In addition to fumigation and spraying, the professional health team will run awareness campaigns to educate the public about kala-azar symptoms, transmission, and prevention.
Ahmed Guhad, the County Chief Officer for Medical Services, disclosed that all nine fatalities recorded since September included youngsters under the age of five.
Speaking at Wajir Referral Hospital on Friday, he stated that the majority of the 500 reported cases were from Eldas, Wajir West, and Wajir East constituencies.
The Wajir County government has launched an emergency response plan to contain a deadly outbreak of Kala-azar, which has left at least 18 people dead and more than 500 infected over the last three months.
— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) March 21, 2025
The disease, also known as visceral leishmaniasis, is caused by the… pic.twitter.com/lxkvnrJ4OP
He also acknowledged the difficulties in responding to the outbreak, noting overburdened health facilities, insufficient testing kits, and the remoteness of some afflicted communities as major barriers.
According to Hassan Abbas Ahmed, the County Director of Medical Services, the increasing number of kala-azar patients has overwhelmed Wajir Referral Hospital.
“To ease the pressure, patients are now being referred to Makoror Hospital, while sub-county health facilities in Giriftu and Eldas have begun admitting cases directly,” said Ahmed.
He stated that extra paediatric wards have been established at Wajir Referral Hospital to meet the growing number of young patients.
However, the county is experiencing delays in receiving test results, further complicating treatment efforts.
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Kala-azar, commonly known as visceral leishmaniasis, is caused by the Leishmania parasite and spreads by sandfly bites.
Health professionals warn that if not treated, the condition can be lethal.
Weight loss, fever, diarrhea, exhaustion, anemia, and an enlarged spleen and liver are among the most common symptoms.
Residents are asked to remain watchful and cooperate with health professionals to prevent the disease from spreading further.
WAJIR: Kala-Azar Outbreak Kills 20 As Gov’t Rushes To Combat Spread
