The Kenya Wildlife Services has established why hyenas have become unusually aggressive towards human especially in parts of Kajiado and Kiambu counties.
Hyena attacks have become rampant in Rongai, Tunkai, Esenkelei and Juja areas
Tests of samples taken from hyenas in those areas have confirmed that they have rabies.
“Confirmation of rabies in the hyenas explains the unusual aggressive behaviour towards people that was witnessed in Juja and Kajiado,” KWS said.
On February 5, a university student was attacked and badly wounded by a hyena at around 8pm. The hyena was confirmed to be infected on February 8.
“A report of a hyena having attacked a student of Multimedia University at Maasai Lodge area of Rongai on February 5, 2024, was responded to and samples collected from the hyena were taken to the National Veterinary Reference Laboratories (NVRL), Kabete for rabies test,” said a statement from KWS.
In another case that occurred on February 10, two people were bitten by a hyena in Eselenkei in Kajiado County.
Samples of the hyena were tested and on February 13, it was confirmed that it was positive with rabies.
On the same date, it was also confirmed that another hyena that had caused havoc in Juja, Kiambu county tested positive for rabies.
The tests were carried at the National Veterinary Reference Laboratories (NVRL), Kabete.
“The general public in the affected localities, in particular, are advised to exercise caution as they go about their daily activities as the necessary measures are put in place to manage the situation,” said KWS.
Following the discovery, KWS has now embarked on mass vaccination of dogs to control spread of the disease to human beings and wildlife.
Aside from that, KWS has also dispatched its Veterinary and Capture Service team to catch the roaming hyenas in the areas.
