Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni is pushing for rigorous surveillance and preventive action against zoonotic diseases, specifically highlighting the Andes strain of Hantavirus. She warned that climate-related health threats are escalating on a global scale, requiring more proactive management.
Following her participation in the global One Health Summit in Lyon, the World Health Summit regional meeting, and the current Kenya Health Security Convention in Mombasa, the PS noted a strategic pivot in national policy. She confirmed that Kenya is moving away from simply reacting to crises and is instead prioritizing long-term disease prevention.
To support this shift, PS Muthoni stated that the government is currently fortifying surveillance systems designed to catch zoonotic diseases – those that jump from animals to humans – before they can spark widespread outbreaks.
PS Muhtoni, who was last week elected chairperson of the African Permanent and Principal Secretaries for Health, pointed out that the “One Health” approach is indispensable for confronting emerging threats like the Hantavirus, as its spread depends heavily on environmental factors and contact with infected rodents.
To manage these risks at the grassroots level, the principal secretary explained that community health promoters will serve as the frontline defense, educating the public and monitoring rodent-related hazards as a core part of the national preventive strategy.
PS Muhtoni further cautioned that environmental disruptions and climate change are driving more frequent disease outbreaks. She noted that Kenya must build more resilient preparedness frameworks to safeguard public health and meet its universal health coverage targets.
In tandem with these local efforts, the Health Ministry has intensified screening at all airports and seaports. Officials are specifically monitoring travelers arriving from affected Atlantic cruise routes to intercept any potential cross-border transmission of the virus.
Simultaneously, the ministry is merging digital surveillance systems with laboratory services to sharpen the early detection of unusual respiratory illnesses. This integration forms a core part of the National Action Plan for Health Security 2026–2030.
Health officials explained that Hantavirus represents a primary “One Health” challenge, as its transmission relies on the complex interplay between animal populations, environmental health, and human activity.
Infected rodents typically carry the virus, shedding it through their urine and droppings. Because poor waste management and contaminated surroundings heighten the risk of human exposure, the ministry is prioritizing environmental hygiene.
The government’s preparedness strategy focuses on turning global health policies into tangible local investments. By strengthening health infrastructure now, the ministry aims to contain potential threats before they can escalate into full-scale national crises.
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