RVF outbreak in Kenya: resource capacity, tasks and constraints of the public health and livestock sectors

The first response measures in the 2006/2007 Rift Valley Fever (RVF) outbreak in Kenya were poorly coordinated between
the health and livestock sectors and the governmental, international, and NGOs. Soon after the outbreak, we have evaluated
the response capacity, tasks and constraints of the public health and livestock sectors and households with a questionnaire
survey in the affected provinces and interviews with key professionals at central level. Major constraints to early detection
and response included: lack of preparedness; weak collaboration with the livestock sector; unavailability of emergency
funds; delay in diagnosis and inadequate logistics. In the course of the outbreak, tasks were assigned in national/provincial and district agreements. Practical difficulties of disease control such as lack of vehicles, poor infrastructure, and inaccessible
roads became evident as a hindering factor for effective control during the outbreak. Lack of staff was particularly impeding
for the livestock services, who were in charge of controlling the disease in livestock – the main source of infection for people,
but had 5 times fewer staff available than the public health sector. As to laboratories, namely the central veterinary
laboratory was understaffed in trained employees and could not handle all samples in a timely way. The lesson on
importance of an intersectoral preparedness and contingency plan of all line ministries was acknowledged by respondents to
better ensure a high level of preparedness and allow a rapid response for a future outbreak.