At least a million livestock in the affected regions have been vaccinated as the disease has reportedly infected nearly 200 people since it was first reported in late December 2006.
Omar Ahmed, the medical services chief in the country's worst-hit north-eastern Province said, "So far we have registered a death toll of 70 in four districts - Garissa, Ijara, Tana River and Wajir."
According to a report in the New Scientist, five recent deaths in the coastal Kilifi district have reportedly brought the death toll to 75 and there are reports surfacing about more people being admitted to hospitals with the viral disease.
Rift Valley fever is usually transmitted from livestock to humans by mosquitoes - mainly during and after flooding and it has been estimated that drinking of raw milk from infected animals could be the main route of infection in this outbreak.
The connection with flooding results from mosquito eggs that are buried in the soil and hatch when washed over by flood waters. The last major outbreak in the region, in 1997, infected 27,500 people and killed 170.
The best ways to curb the spread of the disease is through educating them about boiling the milk before use and avoid getting close to animals, and drinking animals' blood, which is common.
There are currently no known vaccines or treatments for humans. Those suffering from the disease usually experience fever, weakness, joint pain and dizziness. Typically, patients recover within two days to one week after the onset of illness. But about 1% develop a severe infection and half of these die, suffering hemorrhaging.
