Health alert: Free area youth risk contracting rabies after feasting on hyena meat

The next 5 to 21 days, the Department of Health will be conducting surveillance to contain a potential public health risk in Nakuru East ward following the consumption of a hyena by residents around Shiner’s area after an alleged hit and run over the weekend.

This comes after a video circulating on social media showing youth in the area butchering the dead animal, roasting it and consuming it.

Speaking on the matter, Director of Public Health Elizabeth Kiptoo warns that there are significant risks when people consume such carcasses, particularly the transmission of diseases from animals to humans.

“There are two major diseases that they are likely to transmit. One is anthrax, which is basically bacterial. The other one is rabies, which is viral,” she says, noting that the latter is what the department is keeping a close eye out for during this surveillance period, adding that the incubation period for rabies ranges from five to 21 days, during which the department will intensify surveillance efforts in the area.

She warns that rabies has no treatment, and once one becomes infected and shows symptoms, the issue is irreversible.

“Hyenas actually harbor the virus, and they may not get sick themselves, but they can transmit the disease,” she explains, adding that the animals are carriers of the virus.

The Director reveals that the department has put a surveillance system in place to monitor priority diseases, including zoonotic diseases, as well as events likely to cause diseases.

“The consumption of carcasses from hyenas is actually an event that needs measures to be put in place,” Elizabeth says.

She urges those who handled or consumed the hyena to come forward to the nearest health facility for assessment and monitoring.

“We would like to inform those who probably handled and ate it to come forward to the nearest health facility so that we can assess them and maybe monitor if they develop any symptoms,” she says.

The department will be contacting Community Health Promoters (CHPs) to locate those involved and continue monitoring them.

“If they develop symptoms, there is also a risk for them to transmit to other humans. So we really have to monitor them,” she warns.

On symptoms to watch for, Elizabeth says, “In the initial stages, they will develop fever, then they will be salivating, and then the final stages are that they will be barking like dogs.”

She emphasizes these are symptoms the community needs to look out for, adding that the department will be creating awareness on the dangers of consuming such animals and the need to avoid this practice.