GARISSA, Kenya, Jan 12 (Reuters) - The Rift Valley Fever, a virus that has killed nearly 80 people in Kenya, has spread to the Somali border town of Doble, where thousands of refugees fleeing conflict are assembled, officials said on Friday.

The disease was largely confined to remote parts of Kenya's northeastern and coast provinces. However, the disease which is spread through the movement of infected livestock, has crossed over to neighbouring Somalia.

"In Doble, there were reports of people falling sick and animals dying," Kariuki Njenga, a virologist with the Centre for Disease Control, told Reuters. "There are also reports of animals aborting for the last two weeks. These are some of the symptoms of the Rift Valley Fever."

Although transmission from animals to humans is rare, the disease develops into a much more severe illness once it crosses over causing victims to abort, vomit blood or bleed to death.

The disease is transmitted to humans through mosquito bites or frequent contact with contaminated animals.

"Four more people have died of Rift Valley Fever in the region today. This brings the total death toll to 78. There are now 214 confirmed cases since Dec. 14," said Ahmed Omar, medical officer for North Eastern province.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said its teams were having difficulties getting help to affected people as heavy rains over Kenya had made roads impassable, meaning the disease could spread to other areas.

The WHO, Medecins Sans Frontieres and other agencies have deployed teams of experts to reinforce local hospitals and clinics and stop the epidemic spreading any further.

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