Unknown Illness Kills Nine In Kenya

At least nine people have died, and over 80 others are seriously ill in Kargi Location, Marsabit County, following an outbreak of an unknown disease.

Moses Galoro, the senior chief of the area has urged for an early action to prevent future tragedies.

Preliminary testing suggested the prospect of a serious malaria breakout, according to local media reports.

According to Chief Galoro, six adults, and three children aged between one and three years have died from the sickness.

The affected persons had a travel history out of Marsabit County, having come from satellite camps in Archers Post and Merille areas. Out of the 27 patients examined, only five tested positive for malaria.

Flu-like symptoms, yellow eyes, and excruciating headaches are among the symptoms that the majority of those who are affected display.

But like Kalazar, the most recent victim, who passed away at the Kargi Health Centre, had flu-like symptoms, a swollen spleen, a terrible headache, and yellow eyes.

The possibility of visceral leishmaniasis, often known as kala-azar disease, cannot be ruled out, according to doctors.

Anaemia, weight loss, spleen and liver enlargement, sporadic fever attacks, and visceral leishmaniasis are the main symptoms. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that in over 95% of instances, it can be lethal if untreated.

The sickness was originally reported two weeks ago and has continued to cause havoc in the region. 

Chief Galoro has demanded urgent virology tests and widespread resident screening to determine the precise cause of the deaths and stop further fatalities.

The epidemic comes two months after the Kenya Medical Research Institute found an invasive mosquito species in the Laisamis and Saku regions of Marsabit county.