Thika Level 5 Hospital has declared an outbreak of the deadly anthrax infection after 7 people presented with similar symptoms were diagnosed with the disease.
The patients are all reported to be meat loaders at the Makongeni slaughterhouse and are said to have come into contact with an infected carcass at the facility.
The infection is caused by the bacillus anthracis bacteria with the most common variant of the infection being the skin or cutaneous form.
Anthrax is typically carried by animals and human beings only contract it when one comes into contact with infected animal products.
For this reason, the people at highest risk of getting the infection are those who work with animals or animal products, travelers, postal workers, and military personnel.
The first diagnosis in the Thika incident was made after the patient reported having been scraped by a bone on his hand that later swelled and produced lesions similar to a spider bite.
Anthrax normally presents with small blisters with surrounding swellings that often turn into a painless ulcers with a black center.
[caption caption="Anthrax Lesion "]
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Some countries around the world have developed a weaponised form of anthrax making its occurrence a cause for alarm, however, a vaccine against it is available for people as well as animals.
Kiambu County Director of Clinical Services Dr Jacob Toro issued a widely circulated health alert as the county health executives prepare to give a formal report on the incident.
Meanwhile, the Makongeni slaughterhouse has since been closed.
