Nairobi - A deadly strain of malaria has killed 143 people in north-eastern Kenya in the last three months, the provincial commissioner, Mr Maurice Makhanu, said yesterday. "The medical authorities tell me it is a special type of malaria," he said.
Malaria is endemic to Kenya, but recent heavy rains caused in part by the El N]ino weather effect have significantly increased the incidence of many water-borne diseases. The World Health Organisation said last week that 555 people had been killed by cholera in Kenya since the end of June.