Nariobi County Executive for Health, Bernard Muia.[Photo/Courtesy]
Nairobi County Executive for Health, Bernard Muia, has warned that the county is at high risk of an outbreak of dengue fever due to movement of people from the coast to the city.
Speaking at City Hall, Muia said that infected people travelling to the city may spread the disease since it is transmitted through mosquito bites.
This follows an outbreak of the fever in Mombasa where153 cases have been reported in the last two days.
“The disease has an incubation period of between 3-14 days,” said Dr Muia.
The county executive said that a team has been set up to respond to cases should they be reported in the City.
Symptoms of the fever include general body weakness, severe headache, muscle and joint pains, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands or distinctive rash.
In severe cases, patients also experience intense stomach pain, frequent vomiting, bleeding from the nose or gums and hypertension and can lead to death.
There is no vaccine against the fever and if not treated early it might lead to death, said Muia.