Alert issued over malaria upsurge

Kenyan health officials have warned of an anticipated upsurge of malaria cases and other waterborne diseases during the El Niño rains.

Breeding sites for mosquitoes that transmit malaria will increase during the rains, they have said. Speaking during a recent function, Medical Services permanent secretary James ole Kiyiapi said most of the infections are likely to occur among children aged below five.

Malaria is the leading cause of death in Kenya, mostly affecting the rural poor, especially children and pregnant women. It also accounts for 30 per cent of out-patient cases and 19 per cent of hospital admissions.

El Niño rains

Other diseases that are likely to increase include cholera and typhoid. Apart from loss of life and destruction of property worth millions of shillings during the last El Niño rains in 1997/98, increased cases of malaria and other waterborne diseases were also reported countrywide.

In a recent weather forecast released on the October to December short-rains season, Meteorological department director Joseph Mukabana warned that most parts of the country were likely to receive above normal to enhanced rainfall.