The Rift Valley Fever outbreak that has killed dozens of people in northeastern Kenya could threaten the livelihoods of pastoralists living in the semi-arid province, after the government imposed quarantine on local livestock.
The ban on movement of livestock – aimed at containing the spread of the disease - comes just days before celebrations to mark the New Year and Eid-Ul-Adha, a religious occasion marking the end of the Hajj, in which Muslims are expected to slaughter animals.
On Wednesday, local leaders in the provincial capital, Garissa, appealed to the government to declare the RVF outbreak and recent floods in the region a national disaster, saying the disease had negatively affected the welfare of the province's residents.
They said the quarantine would affect their revenue because they could not collect on livestock sales.
Calling for emergency medical and food aid, Garissa Mayor, Siyat Osman, said pastoralists in the affected areas were starving after heeding the government's advice not to consume products from infected animals.
But the chief medical officer in Garissa, Shahnaaz Sharif, said health officials had held a meeting with religious leaders to advise residents on the dangers of slaughtering livestock at home.
"We expect that more than 20,000 goats will be slaughtered in the province at the end of the month to mark religious festivities," he said. "It is important that this is not done at home to reduce the risk of humans contracting the disease."
At least 28 people have died from the disease since it was reported two weeks ago. Hundreds of animals, mostly goats, in Fafi, Jarajila and Shanta Abak - considered the epicentre of the outbreak - have also died.
Other areas affected are Korakora, Shanta Abak, Shell Gulliet and Shimbirey, all near Garissa.
The disease was first identified in Kenya in 1931. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it occurs in epidemics in animals in Africa and is associated with spontaneous abortions in sheep, goats, cattle, camels, and deaths in young animals.
It can be transmitted to humans via mosquitoes or through contact with infected animal material, such as blood or other body fluids, or organs. Consumption of milk, a staple for many pastoral people, is also thought to lead to infection.
Following the latest outbreak, Kenya's health ministry is carrying out clinical case management, surveillance and social mobilisation activities, as well as mosquito net distribution.
The aim is to reduce the risk of animal-to-human transmission via unprotected animal husbandry and slaughter practices. The government also has 100,000 doses of animal vaccine.
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