March 17, 2016 2:29 PM
NAIROBI—
Kenya has reported its first case of yellow fever in 25
years. The patient, who died while receiving treatment, is thought to have
arrived five days ago from Angola, a country that is fighting to stop the
outbreak of the disease. The patient was diagnosed with the virus at an advanced
stage, according to Dr. Jackson Kioko, acting director of the Kenya Medical
Service. "We screened him, and we found out that he had a yellow
fever virus and, of course, he presented himself to us in three advanced stages
when he had a renal and liver failure,” Kioko said. “He succumbed because he
presented himself to the facility too late."
The yellow fever virus is transmitted by an infected
mosquito and found in tropical regions of Africa and Latin America. Symptoms of
yellow fever include headache, vomiting and fatigue.
Statistics from Angolan health officials show that more than
50 people have recently died of the virus, and 250 are infected.The Angolan government has vaccinated half a million people
against yellow fever, and health officials are targeting another million.
High alert
Kenya is on high alert at its entry points, Kioko says. "We've sent an alert notice to our all health workers
to all hospitals, public and private, to ensure that they are on high alert,”
Kioko said. Consequently, “all people who have traveled to high-risk countries
where Ebola have been reported … [are] put on the list of suspicion and we are
able to investigate them thoroughly."
There
is no specific treatment for yellow fever. In serious cases, patients are
admitted to a hospital and given supportive care, such
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