Dengue fever cases in Garissa and Wajir have climbed to 1,678, with five suspected deaths reported in Garissa as the Ministry of Health steps up measures to contain the outbreak.
Garissa has recorded the bulk of the infections, with 1,583 cumulative cases, while Wajir has reported 95 laboratory-confirmed cases, according to a statement signed by Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni on Friday.
The situation is most severe in Dadaab, which accounts for 1,276 of the cases recorded in Garissa. Garissa Township has reported 251 cases, while Fafi has recorded 56.
In Wajir, Wajir East accounts for 85 of the 95 confirmed infections, representing 89.5 per cent of the county's total. The other 10 cases have been reported across Eldas, Wajir West, Wajir North, Wajir South, Tarbaj and Khorof Harar.
Children and adolescents aged between six months and 15 years make up 46 of the confirmed cases in Wajir, accounting for 48.4 per cent of infections recorded in the county.
The five suspected deaths under investigation in Garissa comprise four cases from Garissa Township and one from Hagadera.
“The Ministry of Health is closely monitoring dengue fever in Garissa and Wajir counties and has strengthened national and county-level measures to contain transmission and protect affected communities,” the statement reads.
The ministry has fully activated the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre as it coordinates the response with county and sub-county teams.
Health facilities in the affected areas have been placed on high alert, with authorities increasing surveillance, active screening, investigation and reporting of suspected cases.
Samples from suspected dengue patients are being sent to the national reference laboratory for confirmation. The authorities are also giving priority to investigating and classifying severe cases and suspected dengue-related deaths.
The outbreak in Garissa has been ongoing since January. A WHO Africa emergency preparedness report had also recorded 1,583 cumulative cases and five suspected deaths in the county, highlighting the scale of the outbreak.
The development comes as dengue continues to pose a growing health challenge globally. The World Health Organization says the disease is now endemic in more than 100 countries, putting about half of the world's population at risk.
An estimated 100–400 million dengue infections occur every year, while 2024 saw an unprecedented level of transmission, according to WHO.
In that year alone, 14.43 million dengue cases were reported worldwide, including more than 7.7 million laboratory-confirmed infections, 52,738 severe cases and 11,201 deaths.
Dengue is caused by the dengue virus and is mainly spread through bites from infected female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The mosquitoes usually bite during the day and can reproduce in small amounts of stagnant water.
Most people infected with dengue either have no symptoms or develop a mild illness. However, some patients can develop severe dengue, which may lead to severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding, shock and death.
Symptoms usually appear four to 10 days after infection and may include high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting and rash.
WHO has linked the increasing risk of dengue transmission to changing environmental conditions, including rising temperatures, rainfall and humidity, as well as the expanding spread of Aedes mosquitoes.
The WHO African Region has recorded several dengue outbreaks in recent years. Kenya was among 13 African countries that reported active dengue transmission in 2024, with the overall regional burden affected by gaps in laboratory capacity and disease surveillance.
The Ministry is now calling on residents in the affected counties to take steps to prevent mosquito breeding around their homes and communities.
Residents have been advised to empty, scrub and tightly cover water-storage containers at least once every week.
“Dispose of bottles, tins, tyres and other items that can collect water, and clear blocked drains,” the ministry said.
People have also been urged to use mosquito repellents, wear long clothing and install screens on windows and doors, particularly during the day when the mosquitoes commonly bite.
Anyone experiencing fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle or joint pain, nausea, vomiting or a rash has been advised to seek medical attention without delay.
The ministry has also cautioned dengue patients against taking aspirin or ibuprofen because the medicines can raise the risk of bleeding. Paracetamol may be used to manage fever as directed by a health professional.
Although the latest county updates have not reported new cases, the ministry said continued monitoring remains necessary before transmission can be declared interrupted.
“The Ministry will continue working with county governments, health facilities, community health teams and partners to maintain clinical readiness, laboratory confirmation, vector control and timely public information,” it said.