NAIROBI, Kenya — The United States Embassy in Nairobi has issued a health advisory warning travellers of an increased risk of dengue fever in parts of Kenya after the country was included in an updated travel notice by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In an alert seen by Vivid Voice News, the embassy said the advisory applies primarily to Kenya’s coastal region as well as Garissa and Wajir counties, where health authorities have reported elevated dengue activity.
The warning follows the CDC’s updated Travel Health Notice, which identified Kenya among countries experiencing higher-than-usual dengue fever activity.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has listed Kenya as a country reporting a higher number of cases of dengue fever in its updated Travel Health Notice,” the embassy said.
Kenya was the only African country included in the latest CDC advisory, alongside Bolivia, Cambodia, Colombia, Malaysia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, all of which have reported increased dengue infections among returning U.S. travellers.
Despite the increase in cases, the CDC has placed Kenya under a Level 1 dengue advisory, the lowest travel health alert level, advising travellers to exercise standard precautions rather than avoid travel.
The embassy urged U.S. citizens travelling to or living in affected parts of Kenya to remain vigilant and take preventive measures against mosquito bites.
Recommended precautions include using insect repellents approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), wearing long-sleeved shirts and long trousers when outdoors, and sleeping in air-conditioned rooms or buildings fitted with window screens to minimise exposure to mosquitoes.
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease transmitted by infected Aedes mosquitoes, which are most active during daylight hours. The disease is common in tropical and subtropical regions around the world.
Symptoms typically include high fever, severe headaches, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, nausea and skin rashes.
While most infections are mild and patients recover within days, the CDC warned that severe dengue can develop rapidly and become life-threatening if not treated promptly.
Serious infections can lead to uncontrolled bleeding, dangerously low blood pressure, organ failure and, in some cases, death.
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The CDC noted that there is currently no specific antiviral treatment for dengue, making prevention through mosquito bite avoidance the most effective form of protection.
It also cautioned that dengue remains a year-round health risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks typically occurring every two to five years depending on environmental conditions and mosquito populations.
Kenya has experienced periodic dengue outbreaks in recent years, particularly along the Indian Ocean coast, where climatic conditions favour the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes.
Health authorities continue to monitor the situation while intensifying disease surveillance, mosquito control measures and public awareness campaigns in affected areas.
