Dengue outbreak in Garissa and Wajir reaches 1,678 cases

The Ministry of Health has intensified its response to a dengue fever outbreak in Garissa and Wajir counties. As of August 26, 2026, a total of 1,678 cases have been recorded, with Garissa reporting 1,583 cumulative cases and Wajir reporting 95 laboratory-confirmed infections.

In Garissa, five suspected dengue-related deaths have been reported, including four in Garissa Township and one in Hagadera. The Dadaab area has seen the highest concentration of cases in the county with 1,276 reported. In Wajir, Wajir East accounts for 89.5 percent of the confirmed infections, and nearly half of the confirmed cases in the county involve children and adolescents aged six months to 15 years.

In response, the Ministry of Health and local county governments have activated the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre. Health facilities in the affected regions have been placed on high alert, and infection prevention and control measures have been strengthened. Authorities are also prioritizing the investigation of severe cases and suspected deaths while coordinating with the national reference laboratory for sample confirmation.