Have you heard of the neglected Kala-azar disease?
It is a fatal disease spread through the bite of an infected sand fly.
Kala-azar attacks the human immune system.
It is reported that people living with HIV are particularly vulnerable to Kala-azar.
Marsabit county has enhanced the fight against the kala-azar disease.
An intense vector spraying exercise against the sand fly has commenced in Loglogo and Laisamis locations, which are the worst affected by the outbreak.
He said 40 hotspots have been identified and the county government aims at distributing 500 treated mosquito nets for residents to protect themselves against the sand fly.
County Health executive Jamah Wolde said that the devolved unit has spent more than Sh40 million to attend to more than 200 cases since the outbreak was reported a month ago.
“A single dose for Kala-azar treatment costs about Sh200,000 and we are also engaged in sensitisation campaigns and issuance of treated mosquito nets,” he said.
He said there were 27 admission cases: 20 at Laisamis Level 4 Hospital and seven at Marsabit County Referral Hospital despite relentless efforts to bring the situation under control.
Wolde urged the national government, donors and other stakeholders in the health sector to chip in and help in containing the disease, which has claimed four lives.
It is endemic in many parts of India and East Africa, including the Pokot and Marsabit region of northwest Kenya