The news of a new Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) called ‘Jakadala’ arising from Migori county spread throughout the entire country like wildfire.
This is despite Health officials in the affected county dismissing the existence of such a disease, terming the reports as a hoax.
The disease is believed to be deadly with the ability to kill its victims within 5 days of infection.
Allegations that the disease can be contracted despite using protection has thrown most Kenyan youths especially university students into a panic.
University students in Eldoret shared some of the reasons why they are more afraid of 'Jakadala" than any other STD.
According to most of the students, they will now think twice before sleeping with someone they don't know.
Kenneth Mutai, a third-year student at the University of Eldoret (UoE) believes abstaining is the only best option for the youths.
"If the news of this disease is indeed true, the youths of this country do not have any other option apart from abstaining. There is nothing worse than a disease which does not have protection or cure. At least HIV despite its deadliness, it can be prevented using protection," the student who is pursuing a degree course in Education commented.
Josephine Nandeko. a student pursuing a degree course in Linguistics, Media and communication at Moi University, on the other hand, believes quarantine should be applied to Migori.
"The news of the disease is yet to be verified, but in case it is true the government should quarantine Migori county which is believed to be the origin. You can't risk allowing such a disease which is deadlier than any other STD to spread. Someone can live with AIDS for more than 20 years, but this one kills within 5 days," Nandeko stated.
Kevin Kimutai, a second-year student in the School of Biological Sciences on the hand suggests the World Health Organization (WHO) should step in before it’s too late.
"The news of Jakadala may be fake. But again, what if it is true? What if we have new deadly disease on the street. We can't afford to take this news for granted. Currently, we have HIV killing a lot of people. So if Jakadala is as deadly as it is believed to be, then, in my opinion, the WHO should move in swiftly," Kimutai noted.
The news of Jakadala has caught the attention of both the media and the government and although it has been declared to be fake, most people are still living in fear of the possibility of its existence.
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