- Rabies is one of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) that predominantly affects already marginalized, poor and vulnerable populations.
- The WHO further recommends vaccinating dogs, including puppies as the most cost-effective strategy for preventing rabies.
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The Ministry of Health has procured 60,000 doses of human rabies vaccine as part of the efforts to reduce the burden of the disease.
The vaccines according to the ministry will be distributed to the high-risk counties to prevent human rabies, with training of healthcare workers on the same still ongoing.
Makueni, Machakos, Kitui, Bomet, Nandi, Uasin Gishu, Kisii, Kakamega, Siaya, Kisumu and Migori will receive 2,000 doses each, Nairobi 3,000 doses while Lamu will receive 1,000 doses.
This is contained in the submissions by Health CS Susan Nakhumicha to the National Assembly.
Nakhumicha had been tasked to explain measures and strategies the government is employing in addressing diseases like rabies that are not preventable by mass drug administration.
She was also tasked to outline the interventions being implemented to reduce the burden of rabies in the country.
The CS has noted that 180 healthcare workers from Lamu, Samburu, Machakos, Makueni, Kitui, Kwale, Nakuru, Tharaka Nithi, Siaya, Kisumu, Nandi, and Uasin Gishu have so far been trained between 2020 and 2022 with more training expected to be conducted in 2023 for the remaining high-risk counties.
“Rabies is common in Kenya, with human rabies deaths reported mainly in Siaya, Kisii, Kitui, Lamu, Turkana, Nakuru, Nairobi, Migori, Kakamega and Nandi counties,” Nakhumicha said.
She however noted that rabies is 100 per cent preventable through vaccinating dogs and victims of dog bites.
“In 2014, Kenya launched the National Rabies Elimination Strategy (2014-2030) to guide the systematic elimination of dog-mediated human rabies by 2030,” she said.
The strategy was developed through an inter-ministerial collaboration between the ministries of Health and Agriculture.
“The Directorate of Veterinary Services procured 400,000 doses of rabies vaccine in 2020 and distributed them to 39 counties based on the risk,” the CS said.
Nakhumicha noted that also key priority area is public education and awareness are important to prevent rabies.
Rabies is a fatal but preventable viral disease that can spread to people and pets if they are bitten or scratched by a rabid animal usually dogs.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), after a rabies exposure, the rabies virus has to travel to the brain before it can cause symptoms.
It further notes that the incubation period may vary depending on how far the exposure site is from the brain, the type of the rabies virus and the existing immunity of the individual.
But it can take weeks or even months between exposure and the appearance of symptoms.
“The first symptoms of rabies may be similar to the flu, including weakness or discomfort, fever or headache. There also may be discomfort, prickling or an itching sensation at the site of the bite. These symptoms may last for days,” the CDC says.
The World Health Organisation on the other hand says rabies is one of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) that predominantly affects already marginalized, poor and vulnerable populations.
The WHO further recommends vaccinating dogs, including puppies as the most cost-effective strategy for preventing rabies in people because it stops the transmission at its source.