Kenyan Government allays fears of Zika virus

The Government downplayed fears of the lethal Zika virus spreading to Kenya.

At least 20 countries in Latin America and Cape Verde in West Africa are affected by the virus sparking fears in many parts of the world, including Kenya. Zika has been linked to severe birth defects in children in South America.

The virus, spread through mosquito bites, has been linked to serious brain defects in babies forcing some affected countries to call on women to avoid getting pregnant for now. It is also linked to a rare disease that affects nerves and causes paralysis.

Health Principal Secretary Nicholas Muraguri said there is no cause for alarm in Kenya so far since the affected areas are not near Kenya.

He said the Government is more concerned with other diseases caused by the same species of mosquito such as Rift Valley fever, yellow fever, dengue fever and Chikungunya.

"As a precaution, our scientists at the Kenya Medical Research Institute will be on stand by in case they are needed to diagnose the disease. But there are no plans to monitor travellers from South America so far," he said.

Ahmed Kalebi, a consultant pathologist, said the threat posed by this virus in Kenya is probably not as devastating as what has been witnessed in South America.

Dr Kalebi, who is also the chief executive officer of Lancet laboratories, said Zika has been in East Africa, and that the population has over the years developed some level of immunity, thus protecting locals against the devastating effects seen in South America.

"There haven't been any reported active cases of the virus in Kenya in the recent years thus transmission from humans to humans through infected mosquitoes is unlikely," he said. He added: "Despite the presence of the Aedes mosquito, which transmits Zika virus, the diseases linked to the virus remain rare in Kenya. So the virus is unlikely to be a problem in the country."

Kenya Medical Association National Chairman Elly Nyaim urged the Government and Kenyans to be vigilant regarding the virus even though the risks of having an outbreak in the country are very low.  The virus is transmitted mainly through infected mosquito bites and in some cases through sex.