Highland Malaria Sweeps Kenya Mountain Towns

Written by Stephanie Kriner, Staff Writer, RedCross.org

July 29, 2002 — Forty-six people died when heavy rain came in early May to the Kenyan highland provinces of Nyanza and Rift Valley. The rains created floods and landslides that swept away homes and inundated thousands of acres of cropland with contaminating floodwaters. The disaster left more than 15,000 people displaced and dependent on outsiders for food and shelter. However, the floods unleashed an even more deadly crisis that has shaken the area’s hillside communities.

Stagnant waters left by the floods became breeding grounds for mosquitoes. As a result, a malaria outbreak has swept through populations of disaster victims still recovering from the spring time floods and unaware of the looming danger.

Known as “highland malaria” at increased elevations, the disease has claimed more than 750 lives since heavy rains brought floods to the area in early May. The worst affected districts are Kericho, Bureti, Nyamira, Kisii, Gucha and Nandi, but the Ministry of Health has declared a malaria epidemic in a total of 12 districts, also including Transmara, Uasin Gishu, Kisumu, Bomet, Baringo and Trans Nzoia.

While many regions of Africa have grown accustomed to the threat posed by malaria, this mountainous area of Kenya was once thought to be immune from the mosquito-carrying disease. Therefore, the residents here have little resistance, making the outbreak more deadly than those that occur in areas where the disease is endemic.

Many hospitals in the region are overflowing with patients, and drug resistance is making the disease difficult to treat. With the first line sulpha pyrimenthamine drugs proving to be ineffective, doctors are turning to the second line drugs, or amodiaquines.

Red Cross Helps Unaware Residents Fight Deadly Epidemic

Once considered outside of malaria risk areas, it has become more common for high altitude regions to experience outbreaks in recent years. In fact, Kenya’s highlands had a previous outbreak of the disease that killed hundreds of people in 1998.

Some scientists blame this occurrence on a combination of wet weather and increasing temperatures. Without sufficiently warm temperatures, the malaria parasite doesn't develop inside the mosquito enough to be transmitted when the insect bites.

But when the weather is warmer and wetter than normal, the parasite does have time to develop. As a result, people living in the highlands, who have neither developed immunity nor taken precautions, are easily infected.

The unusual outbreak could grow worse for Kenyans who are unfamiliar with its causes and symptoms. ”Most of the deaths occurred because patients came too late to the hospital,” Mary Kuria, of the Kenya Red Cross said in an International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies release

With a $10,000 gift from the American Red Cross, the Kenyan Red Cross has launched a program to halt the spread of malaria. One thousand Kenyan Red Cross volunteers are teaching those at risk how to avoid and treat the disease. The volunteers are traveling door-to-door, advising residents about the importance of early treatment and prevention. They also are encouraging residents to clear bushes and drain stagnant water near their homes.

In addition to educating their neighbors about the disease, volunteers are distributing mosquito nets, anti-malarial drugs and insecticide to the most affected areas in the western districts.

The Kenya Red Cross, supported by other members of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, was the first organization at the scene of the disaster zone in May. Since then, volunteers have distributed mosquito nets, anti-malarial drugs, blankets, tents and other emergency supplies. Because the greatest number of patients is children under 5 years old, the Red Cross also has distributed 100 cartons of supplementary food.

Related articles:

• American Red Cross in Kenya
• American Red Cross Measles Initiative