By Magdalene Wanja - Reporter
Kenya, April 7, 2026 - Kenya has stepped up efforts to strengthen its preparedness and response to dengue and other emerging infectious diseases, as health officials warn of growing risks driven by climate change, urbanisation, and increased human mobility.
Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni said the government is prioritizing early detection, prevention, and coordinated response systems to safeguard public health.
The PS spoke during a high-level roundtable during the One Health Summit in Lyon, France.
“Kenya is strengthening surveillance and early warning systems, scaling up community-based vector control, and expanding laboratory capacity through the Kenya Medical Research Institute,” she said. “We are also enhancing multi-sectoral coordination under the One Health approach to address dengue and other emerging public health threats.”
She noted that expanding laboratory networks will improve timely diagnosis and reporting of cases, while community-based interventions, such as eliminating mosquito breeding sites and raising public awareness, remain central to reducing transmission at the grassroots level.
The One Health approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health systems, is increasingly seen as critical as shifting climate patterns create favorable conditions for the spread of vector-borne diseases like dengue. Muthoni said Kenya is aligning its national strategies with this framework to build resilience against future outbreaks.
“We must deepen global collaboration to improve access to diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines,” she said. “Kenya remains committed to building resilient, climate-responsive health systems that can effectively respond to evolving public health threats.”
Background
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Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease, has been on the rise globally over the past decade, with outbreaks reported across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In Kenya, sporadic dengue outbreaks have been recorded, particularly in coastal regions such as Mombasa and Lamu, where warm temperatures and high humidity create ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes.
Public health experts warn that climate change is expanding the geographic range of disease-carrying vectors, increasing the risk of outbreaks in previously unaffected areas. Rapid urbanization, inadequate waste management, and water storage practices have also contributed to the proliferation of mosquito breeding sites.
In response, the Kenyan government has been working with partners, including the World Health Organization, to strengthen surveillance systems, improve case management, and enhance public awareness campaigns aiming at prevention.
The roundtable in Lyon brought together global health leaders and experts, including Indonesia’s Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Senegal’s Minister of Health Ibrahima Sy, Director of the Pan American Health Organization Jarbas Barbosa, and epidemiologist Rebecca Grais, alongside policymakers, scientists, and development partners.
Participants underscored the urgency of coordinated global action to address the growing threat of arboviral diseases, with a focus on improving equitable access to vaccines and strengthening health systems in vulnerable regions.
For Kenya, the renewed focus on surveillance, research, and international collaboration signals a broader commitment to not only managing current outbreaks but also anticipating and mitigating future public health risks in an increasingly interconnected and climate-sensitive world.
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