Fear of an outbreak of Dengue fever has gripped parts of Baringo County after five people tested positive for the disease.
According to the Kenya Red Cross Society, which has dispatched a team to the county, two of the cases were confirmed a week ago.
Three others were confirmed over the weekend after 21 people underwent tests at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri).
"The infections have been noted in Tiaty and Tirioko wards," said Red Cross Coordinator Christopher Okotch.
He explained that the Red Cross team will be managing the spread of the disease and treating those infected.
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Caused by mosquitoes
Dengue fever is caused by mosquitoes. Already Red Cross has been distributing mosquito nets and clearing bushes to prevent the mosquitoes from breeding.
Dengue fever as similar symptoms as malaria. they include, high fever, severe headache, pain in the eyes, exhaustion, vomiting, nausea, skin rash, severe joint and muscle pain.
“We are also educating people on how dengue fever is spread," Okotch said. Laboratory tests at Kemri also confirmed some cases of kala-azar.
According to Okotch, tests for chikungunya virus, Rift Valley fever, yellow fever and west nile cremiam hemorrhagic fever turned negative.
He noted that the other alarming disease that is spreading in Baringo is malaria.
He said an outbreak of malaria has been reported in Chesitet, Nakoko, Ginyang, Tirioko, and Loyamorok wards.
“New cases of malaria are being reported in several parts of the county, this is because of the ongoing rains," Okotch said.
According to Okotch, another Red Cross team of nurses and nutritionists has been dispatched to Kapunyan, Kiserian and Rotu dispensaries to support the Government in handling malaria. [Mercy Kahenda]
