By Linah Benyawa
MOMBASA, KENYA: Fourteen more suspected cases of dengue fever have been reported in Mombasa County in the last one week, Mombasa District Health officer Dr. Shem Patta has said.
Dr Patta who is working with a team of researchers from Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Nairobi said in Mombasa that fourteen new specimens from patients have been flown to the KEMRI for tests to determine if they are ill with the fever.
“About 14 new suspected cases of dengue fever have been reported and the specimen already taken to KEMRI CDC Nairobi where some tests are currently going so that we can get the results and see if the cases tests negative or positive for Dengue fever,” said Dr Patta who disclosed that the specimens were taken for further testing because victims displayed symptoms of fever associated with malaria but tested negative for the latter disease raising suspicion that they could be suffering from dengue [fever].
Dr Patta and KEMRI researchers have told the Standard that the only government laboratory that can confirm such tests is in Nairobi.
He attributed the new numbers to the ongoing rains and warned local residents to clear unused and stagnant water at home or outside citing this as breeding grounds for the mosquito that transmit the fever.
“We have asked the local residents to ensure that they clear unused water reservoirs and empty containers so that the vector associated with the fever does not breed. And for those who have not been cooperative, we have warned them that legal action would be taken against them, we have already given notice to two houses which have not been cooperative,” he added.
Dr Patta explained that spraying was ongoing in different homes within Mombasa island and other towns as part of the government’s efforts to stop mosquito larvae from spreading.
“We have been spraying homes within Mombasa Island, Changamwe Makande and Kisauni as part of the measures to control the vector from spreading all we are asking is cooperation from the locals,” he urged.
Last week, researchers from KEMRI Nairobi said about 58 cases of dengue fever had been confirmed with about 148 suspected cases reported in the last two months.
They disclosed that the cases had been detected as early as January this year in private hospitals but more cases were reported early March.
Out of the cases, 47 per cent were female while the other 53 were women and following the outbreak, a group of about eight researchers from KEMRI CDC are in the county to conduct some investigations and evaluation and try to find out how the fever manifested itself in the County.
Dr. Abdinoor Mohammed a researcher with KEMRI CDC the current situation in Mombasa was worrying though no mortalities connected to the fever have been reported yet.
“We have received about 148 suspected cases of dengue fever from Mombasa and out of them 58 have turned positive while the results of 34 cases are still pending,” said Dr. Mohammed.
He confirmed that out of the specimen taken to the KEMRI CDC, 50 per cent of the cases were reported by Aga khan hospital Mombasa which he said was one of the private hospitals whose surveillance system was working.
He explained that most of the cases reported were from Mombasa Island with a few reported from Kwale and Kilifi Counties.
“At least 15 cases have been confirmed in Mombasa Island which is the area which has mostly been affected with the fever. Though none of the cases tested were not severe,” he explained.
The areas that are prone to the fever are Kisauni and Changamwe where the researchers say are areas where the virus has established itself.
They attributed the high cases to poor sanitation since the mosquitoes associated with the fever are said to like hiding in empty containers and drums and also abandoned pools and discarded tires.
At the same time, Dr. Rosemary Sang another researcher from KEMRI CDC said the fever was common in Mombasa because of the weather conditions arguing that cycle of transmission for the Aedes Aegpty was faster in warm areas.
“Warm areas enhances the breeding rate of the vector that is why these cases were quite a number here in Mombasa but if we control the vector, we will be able to stop the fever,” explained Dr. Sang.
She urged the locals to throw away all the empty cans and cover all open drums and use of mosquito repellants in all the places especially offices where people spend most of their time in.
He disclosed that it is the second outbreak since 1982 when the first outbreak was reported in Mandera arguing that the government’s surveillance systems were not very good hence making it difficult to detect the disease soon enough.
Dr. Mohammed said that the high number of suspected cases made a team from KEMRI CDC to come down to Mombasa and will be around for a period of two weeks to conduct some case investigations, review health records in hospitals within the county and also conduct a prospective case investigation and surveillance.
“It is so difficult to differentiate between symptoms of dengue fever and Malaria that is why we want to sensitize the public to ensure they go to hospital and get tested if one tests negative for malaria then they could be suffering from dengue fever,” he added.
