Kenya News

January 17, 2018: World Health Organization, WHO, is helping the government to contain an outbreak of Chikungunya in Mombasa following reports from clinicians of increased unknown febrile illness that presented with very high fever, joint pains and general body weakness. The tests were found malaria negative and sometimes dengue fever negative.
The outbreak has affected all the six-sub counties namely, Mvita, Kisauni, Nyali, Changamwe, Jomvu and Likoni. Most cases are found on the island, Mvita.

Monday, Dec 18, 2017
Kenya has met the criteria for Guinea worm free certification status, following a comprehensive evaluation in the country in the last two weeks by the International Certification Team (ICT). 
The team for evaluating the status of Guinea Worm Disease found no evidence of Guinea Worm transmission in the last three years, in the presence of adequate surveillance and follow- up of rumours of the disease, putting the country on track to the Guinea Worm-free certification status.

December 1, 2017                                                              
Kenya may be certified Guinea Worm free if the country meets the requirements set by the International Commission for the Certification of Dracunculiasis (Guinea Worm) Eradication (ICCDE).

10 November 2017

WHO has been implementing the Emergency Response Plan since 20 October 2017 when the Ministry of Health officially declared the outbreak. WHO released US$ 624 000 from the Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE) to rapidly respond which has proven to help contain the outbreak.

News release

03 NOVEMBER 2017 | NAIROBI – The World Health Organization is helping the Kenyan Ministry of Health guard against the spread of Marburg Virus Disease from neighbouring Uganda.

Health authorities are strengthening preparedness measures in Trans Nzoia and West Pokot counties along the border with Uganda, where an outbreak was officially declared on 19 October. 

October 24, 2017:  Kenya marks World Polio Day with a great sense relief and determination to keep the country polio free. Following a Wild Polio Virus outbreak in 2013 after an importation, health teams from Ministry of Health traversed the country to its farthest corners and most inaccessible areas with support from WHO, and other partners to do supplementary immunization activities - polio campaigns. These were done from house to house covering children aged five and below, vastly reducing any threats of the wild polio virus.

World Mental Health Day 2017 was commemorated in Kenya with a call for changes at workplace to reduce risk factors for stress and policies that ensure work environment promotes wellbeing and productivity. Speakers at the commemoration event urged workplace communities to talk about depression and other mental health problems like substance abuse in order to promote best practice, decrease negative attitudes and empower individuals.

Planning for the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme (MVIP) in Kenya is on track with roll out of the vaccine scheduled to begin in 2018. Kenya is one of three African countries selected by the World Health Organization to participate in the first implementation of the vaccine that has been shown to reduce 4 out of 10 cases of malaria, and prevent severe malaria by more than 30% in the age group recommended to receive the vaccine.