Rift Valley Fever kills 74 in Kenya

NAIROBI, Jan 9: Rift Valley Fever, a highly contagious virus, has killed 74 people in Kenya and infected hundreds more after spreading from the northeastern region to the coast, the health ministry said today.

The fever, which is spread through mosquito bites or movement of contaminated animals, causes flu-like symptoms and can lead to death through bleeding.

''Seventy four people have so far died and 219 are infected,'' Dr Shahnaaz Sharif, a chief medical specialist with the ministry of health, told Reuters.

He said the disease -- which was earlier confined to the northeastern province where nomadic herders crisscross the arid land with their livestock in search of water and pasture -- had now crossed over to the neighbouring coast province.

An outbreak of Rift Valley Fever was blamed for the deaths of hundreds of people in Kenya in 1997-1998..

Reuters