Widespread flooding in Kenya is helping to spread what could be a new variant of the deadly virus Rift Valley Fever.

The flooding, which has displaced thousands of people, has created almost "perfect" conditions for the disease.

Doctors say it is out of control and may spread to other parts of Africa.

The disease, which is concentrated around the town of Garissa, 320km north-east of Nairobi, has already killed 600 people and thousands of animals.

It is spread by mosquitoes to animals but affects humans when they come into contact with infected blood or meat. It kills around 50% of victims.

Outbreak 'more severe' than thought

Dr Abdalla fears the outbreak is worse than previously thought

Dr Saeed Abdalla, from the Kenyan Red Cross, said: "This is the first time we have found cases so close to each other and it is not a good sign. I fear the outbreak is worse than we think."

Within an hour of arriving in the community of Garissa, she had examined three people who showed positive symptoms of what appeared to be the virus. There is no known cure.

The high number of patients bleeding from the mouth, ears and nose has not been seen in other outbreaks of the virus. There are fears this could be a new, more virulent strain.

Dr Abdalla added: "At the moment we are just targeting those people who are bleeding, but what about those who have a mild form that we don't know anything about?"

Tourism fears

Flooding has created breeding ground

The World Health Organisation has warned visitors to protect themselves from the mosquitoes that carry the fever-causing virus from infected animals to humans.

An outbreak along the Indian Ocean coast could deal a blow to Kenya's vital tourism industry, still reeling from negative publicity after politically-inspired violence among Kenyans in August.

In Egypt between 1977 and '78, a severe outbreak of the fever, which takes its name from the geological fault that runs north and south from Jordan to Mozambique, killed around 600 people.

Across the border in the Somali town of Luq, 70 people are believed to have died from the disease.
 

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