The emergence of the mosquito borne disease follows heavy rain and flooding in the affected area. Investigations by the Kenya Veterinary Service confirm sheep, cattle and camels have been most seriously affected. The disease causes fever, abortion, jaundice and death predominantly in young animals and a fall in milk yield in dairy cattle. Farmers in the Rift Valley area are having to contend with other diseases brought on by the environmental conditions. Large populations of mosquitoes have meant an increase in the many diseases that they carry.
Foot rot appears to be widespread as a consequence of long immersion of the feet in water and mud.
It is also feared that favourable conditions for tse-tse fly multiplication could be provided as the land dries out and infections rates could increase. An outbreak of the livestock pest the Old World Screwworm has reached epidemic proportions in Iraq. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization warns that the pest could spread to neighbouring Near East countries unless urgent control measures are taken. Samples have been found in a diseased animal in Kuwait and the pest has also been detected in Iran. In 1989 there was an infestation of the very similar New World Screwworm in Libya, but an international effort resulted in the complete eradication of the pest by 1993.