WHO sets international health standards including blood donation targets and identifies preventable cancer risk factors; referenced on Kenyan border policy and disease surveillance.
… South Africa’s Department of Health confirmed at least one laboratory-confirmed case linked to the cruise ship, with three deaths reported among suspected cases.World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Professor Mohamed Janabi, said the situation is being clo …
WHO Director General Tedros during a virtual press conference in Geneva on the hantavirus cluster linked to a cruise ship, May 7, 2026. [AFP] As memories of Covid-19 continue to shape how countries across the globe respond to disease outbreaks, World Health Organisation (WHO) Dir …
The World Health Organisation’s pandemic agreement remains stalled in Geneva, as Kenya and African leaders, drawing hard lessons from the HIV and Covid-19 crises, reject a system that treats their genetic data as a free commodity. …
… the government through the Ministry of Health to address this matter urgently, this will save our mothers from premature deaths of their newborn babies", said Otunda.He said the shortfall, aggravated by emigration (92%) and high turnover, falls below the World Health Organisation …
… She died at the emergency department of a Johannesburg hospital on April 26 after her condition deteriorated during the flight, the World Health Organisation said."We need to know who the people were who were in contact with this lady," Motsoaledi said. …
… Kenya’s Ministry of Health has previously identified the Great Rift Valley as one of the country’s most affected regions for fluorosis, with fluoride concentrations in some areas far exceeding the World Health Organisation’s recommended limit. …
… World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director Hans Kluge said global health challenges can only be addressed through cooperation as “diseases know no borders”. …
… After implementing vaccination programmes targeting both boys and girls, the country has nearly eliminated genital warts and is approaching World Health Organisation thresholds for cervical cancer elimination. …
Health specialists warn that excess weight can trigger multiple medical problems extending beyond appearance, including effects on blood sugar, blood pressure, kidney function and blood circulation. Specialist clinics held in Dar es Salaam discussed conditions linked to obesity, diabetes, vascular disease and kidney complications, with doctors increasingly seeing patients whose weight is intertwined with diabetes, sleep disorders, high blood pressure, joint pain and reduced mobility.
Health specialists warn that excess weight can trigger multiple medical problems extending beyond appearance, including effects on blood sugar, blood pressure, kidney function and blood circulation. Specialist clinics held in Dar es Salaam discussed conditions linked to obesity, diabetes, vascular disease and kidney complications, with doctors increasingly seeing patients whose weight is intertwined with diabetes, sleep disorders, high blood pressure, joint pain and reduced mobility.
Fish provide essential nutrients like omega-3s for heart health, but as water pollution increases, the same fish may contain harmful substances such as heavy metals or pesticides. Consumers face a difficult trade-off between nutrient benefits and contamination risks, complicated by varying individual circumstances and changing needs throughout life.
Many cases of vision loss are preventable when detected and managed early, yet eye health is often ignored in daily life until damage becomes severe. Experts in Kenya warn against self-medication and delayed diagnosis, emphasizing the importance of routine eye check-ups and clinical assessment for injuries and infections.
Diabetic retinopathy, caused by high blood sugar damaging blood vessels in the eye, is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness worldwide and a growing public health concern in Kenya. The condition often develops without early symptoms, and if undetected can progress to vision loss or blindness.
The 2026 Rugby Africa Men's Sevens Championship, scheduled for June 20–21 in Mauritius and expected to feature 12 nations, has been postponed due to public health concerns linked to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa. The decision was taken as a precautionary measure, with no confirmed cases connected to the tournament.
Infected learners from poor backgrounds in Khasoko Ward, Bumula Constituency received treatment during a community health programme, with jigger infestation identified as a Neglected Tropical Disease affecting school attendance and academic performance.
Sub-Saharan Africa collects roughly five blood donations per 1,000 people annually, far below the WHO recommendation of one per cent of population and the 30 per 1,000 collected in high-income countries. Beyond shortages, problems with cold-chain failures, inadequate screening, and fragmented logistics mean blood often does not reach patients safely or on time.
Democracy for the Citizens Party leader Rigathi Gachagua has claimed that the planned establishment of an Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki is a scheme by President William Ruto to wipe out the Mt Kenya community, questioning why the President agreed with the American government to establish such a facility.
Kenya Wine Agencies Limited (KWAL) has launched a Feminine Leave Policy offering one day of paid leave per month to employees, effective June 1, 2026, in recognition of health challenges associated with menstruation, perimenopause and menopause. The policy aims to advance workplace inclusion and support employee wellbeing and performance.
Health CS Aden Duale said Kenya will not close its borders despite Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, stating instead that the government will strengthen surveillance, screening, and contact tracing measures in line with WHO recommendations.
Kenyan obstetricians and maternal health experts are deploying virtual reality and telemedicine technologies to reduce maternal deaths, which the Ministry of Health estimates at 5,000 to 6,000 annually from pregnancy and childbirth complications. The effort includes the launch of the PPH School, an initiative led by Prof Moses Obimbo to address preventable causes of maternal mortality.
An opinion piece warns that Kenya risks harming a generation through rising use of nicotine products including e-cigarettes and vapes among young people, as tobacco use contributes to approximately 12,000 deaths annually and threatens to reverse global tobacco control progress.
Democratic members of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee have demanded the Trump administration repatriate Americans exposed to Ebola after Kenya's High Court blocked a US military-built quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base. The court issued interim orders on May 28 halting plans to establish Ebola-related treatment or quarantine facilities in Kenya under arrangements involving foreign governments.
A woman died from postpartum haemorrhage complications hours after delivering twins at Kambu Sub-county Hospital in Makueni County last December, highlighting the dangers of excessive bleeding after childbirth. The article frames this tragedy within Makueni's efforts to reduce maternal mortality.
The World Health Organisation says more than one-third of cancer cases globally are preventable, with cervical, stomach and lung cancers accounting for nearly half of preventable cases. Major risk factors include tobacco use, alcohol consumption, high body mass index, low fruit and vegetable intake, lack of physical activity, and air pollution.
An experimental study found that mosquitoes can learn to associate the smell of DEET, the world's most common insect repellent, with food and after training may prefer to bite people sprayed with it. The lead researcher emphasized that the results, conducted under specific lab conditions, do not undermine DEET's effectiveness, which has saved many lives since its development in the 1940s.
Katiba Institute has filed a court petition to halt operations at a "state-of-the-art" facility the US is building in Kenya for US nationals to quarantine after exposure to Ebola from the Democratic Republic of Congo outbreak. The rights group argues the centre raises constitutional concerns and was established in secrecy, while the Africa CDC warns it could strain Kenya's health system.
The United States announced an additional $80 million allocation to combat the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, bringing total US aid to $112 million since the outbreak began. The funds will support protective equipment for healthcare workers, regional border screening, and test kits.
An Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's Ituri province has killed 88 of 322 suspected cases in Mongbwalu and spread to neighboring provinces and Uganda, but residents are divided between criticism of the government response and denial of the disease's existence.
Africa CDC has classified Kenya, Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia as high-risk countries for Ebola spread, citing the ongoing Bundibugyo strain outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Africa CDC Director-General Dr Jean Kaseya said these high-risk countries need to strengthen preparedness, establish centralised response mechanisms, improve surveillance systems and enhance early detection capacities.
Uganda has confirmed three new Ebola cases, bringing the total to five infections, prompting WHO to revise its disease risk assessment amid concerns over cross-border transmission from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The 2026 World Health Summit regional meeting in Nairobi concluded with resolutions to strengthen Africa's health systems, including the launch of the African Health Leadership and Management Committee and a Regional Coordinating Centre in Kenya serving 14 countries. Digital transformation and AI were highlighted as key tools to improve patient care and reach underserved populations.
The WHO reports that Ebola has killed 82 people, with suspected deaths potentially reaching 17 in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, while about 750 cases remain unconfirmed. Kenya has identified 22 high-risk counties and activated public health emergency response measures including border screening, laboratory diagnostics, and health worker training, though no case has been confirmed in the country.
The United Kingdom has announced up to £20 million in new funding to help contain the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, supporting the World Health Organisation, UN agencies, and NGO partners to strengthen disease surveillance, support health workers, and improve infection prevention and control measures.
Kenya has seen a surge in depression, mental distress, and suicide cases among religious leaders, with WHO ranking Kenya fifth among African nations for depression cases. The piece argues that clergy—often the first responders in others' crises—lack safe spaces to acknowledge their own mental health struggles.
Kenya's Ministry of Health has stepped up national surveillance and response measures following the World Health Organisation's declaration of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a public health emergency of international concern. The number of suspected cases in DRC and Uganda has risen to 600, with 139 suspected deaths, and Kenya remains free of the virus but faces concern over regional links through transport and cross-border movement.
Kenya has scaled up disease surveillance and emergency preparedness nationwide following a WHO declaration of Ebola as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where suspected cases and deaths have risen. The Health Cabinet Secretary confirmed Kenya remains Ebola-free but said the country has heightened screening at all points of entry, with at least 34,500 travellers screened as of May 18, 2026.
The U.S. Embassy in Kampala has suspended all visa services effective May 18 due to an ongoing Ebola outbreak in Uganda. The suspension affects all visa categories and prevents new appointment scheduling, though already-issued visas remain valid and the WHO has declared the situation a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed more than 80 people, with 336 suspected cases reported. The World Health Organisation declared it a "public health emergency of international concern" on Sunday, noting the Bundibugyo strain has no vaccine and a lethality rate that can reach 50 percent.
Africa's top health agency declared an Ebola outbreak in DR Congo's eastern Ituri province, with around 246 cases and 80 deaths reported mainly in gold-mining towns. Uganda confirmed one imported case, a 59-year-old male who died after testing positive.