DISTRIBUTION AND PREVALENCE OF HUMAN BRUCELLOSIS AMONG PATIENTS REPORTING AT CHEMUNDU DISPENSARY, NANDI COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Human brucellosis is one of the world’s most widespread zoonotic diseases. The disease is caused mainly by

Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis. Studies conducted in Kenya have reported human brucellosis preva

lence of up to 20%. In this study, the prevalence and distribution of brucellosis was determined from hospital

records of patients reporting to the Chemundu location health center by self-passive administration. The overall

prevalence determined was 32.3% (337/1043) over a five-year period. 20.71% (218) were males and 79.3%

(824) were females. Out of the males tested, 69 out of 218 (31.7%) were positive. Out of the females tested,

268 out of 824 (32.5%) were positive. Patients reporting to the health center came from 46 villages that were

widespread, some of which were out of the Chemundu location. A few of the records had no indication of

where the patients were from. The overall results of the study show a moderate increase in the trend of brucel

losis over the five years.