Northern Corridor leaders trained to tackle emerging disease threats

Kenya, August 8, 2026 - Leaders from the transport, hospitality, business, marginalised communities and sex worker associations along Kenya’s Northern Transport Corridor have been trained to strengthen preparedness and response to infectious disease outbreaks.

The training, which targeted 15 community leaders, focused on Bundibugyo virus disease, cholera and mpox,equipping participants with skills in infection prevention and control, early disease detection, reporting and risk communication.

The initiative was led by the Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI) with support from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC),in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and the Kenya Red Cross Society.

Participants were also trained on how to counter misinformation, promote timely care-seeking and improve community awareness during disease outbreaks.

Working with county health promotion officers, the leaders developed practical action plans for their respective sectors and received information, education and communication (IEC) materials to support public awareness campaigns.

Africa CDC said the initiative was part of efforts to strengthen community-led preparedness and build resilient health systems capable of preventing, detecting and responding to public health emergencies.

Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) is a rare viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a member of the Ebolavirus genus. It was first identified in Uganda’s Bundibugyo district in 2007.

The disease can cause symptoms including fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pain, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain,In severe cases, patients can develop bleeding and other serious complications.

The virus is primarily transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids. Early detection, isolation of suspected cases, infection prevention measures and rapid medical care are therefore important in controlling outbreaks.

Unlike cholera, which is mainly associated with contaminated food or water, or mpox, which can spread through close physical contact, Bundibugyo virus disease requires stringent infection prevention measures when caring for suspected patients.

Kenya's Northern Transport Corridor, which links the port of Mombasa to Nairobi and onward to Uganda and other landlocked countries, is a major movement route for people and goods. Public health authorities therefore consider preparedness among transport workers, traders, hospitality workers and other mobile populations important in detecting and containing outbreaks early.

Africa CDC said empowered communities remain a critical foundation for strengthening health security on the continent.