The epidemic that hit northern Uganda causing panic across the border has been identified as plague.The epidemic, which is spread from rodents to humans by fleas, killed 35 people in Kitgum, Uganda. Kitgum borders Turkana district where health officials were on the alert after the epidemic was reported in Uganda.
The Director for Public Health and Sanitation, Dr Shahnaaz Sharif, told the Nation Ugandan health authorities had identified the disease. He said experts had been sent to contain the disease. "Kenya is safe and there is no cause for alarm," Dr Sharif said, adding that the disease was not highly contagious.
The World Health Organisation says plague kills between 30 and 60 per cent of those infected, if left untreated.
Its symptoms could easily be confused for another infections such as common flu. The diseases manifests itself in many forms, though the bubonic plague is the most common.