Nairobi – Kenya’s Ministry of Health has issued a public advisory following the confirmation of two cases of the Nipah virus (NiV) in India’s West Bengal region, reassuring the public that there is no outbreak in Kenya and the risk of importation remains low.
In a statement released on February 3, Director General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth said the government is closely monitoring developments in India while maintaining national preparedness measures.
“There is currently no Nipah virus outbreak in Kenya. The risk to the general public remains low,” the advisory said, urging calm and adherence to basic hygiene and food safety practices.
Monitoring a rare but deadly virus
Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can spread from animals to humans, and in some cases between people. It primarily affects the brain and respiratory system, often causing severe illness.
The virus is naturally carried by fruit bats, with transmission occurring through direct contact with infected animals, consumption of food contaminated by bat secretions, or close contact with infected individuals, particularly in household or healthcare settings.
Symptoms usually develop between three and 21 days after exposure and may include fever, headache, confusion, drowsiness, difficulty breathing, vomiting, or diarrhoea. In severe cases, the infection can lead to encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), which can be fatal.
While outbreaks have occurred intermittently in parts of South and Southeast Asia since the virus was first identified in 1998, no cases have ever been reported in Africa, including Kenya.
Government preparedness measures
According to the advisory, the Ministry of Health has taken several precautionary steps, including:
- Continuous monitoring of the outbreak situation in India
- Ongoing national risk assessments
- Placing the National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (NPHEOC) on watch mode
- Strengthening preparedness and response planning across the health system
Health authorities emphasised that Kenya’s surveillance and response mechanisms remain alert, particularly in relation to international travel.
Travel and public health guidance
As a precaution, Kenyans have been advised to avoid non-essential travel to affected areas in India until further notice. Those who must travel are urged to observe strict personal hygiene and to seek medical attention promptly if symptoms develop after travel.
The Ministry also cautioned against the spread of misinformation, urging the public to rely on official government communication.
To reduce risk, members of the public are advised to:
- Wash and peel fruits before consumption
- Avoid fruits that show signs of animal bites
- Refrain from consuming raw or unprocessed fruit products
- Avoid handling sick or dead animals without protective equipment
- Practice regular handwashing and avoid close contact with severely ill individuals
Anyone experiencing fever with difficulty breathing, confusion, or severe headache, particularly after recent international travel, should seek immediate medical attention.
Reassurance to the public
The Ministry underscored that simple hygiene practices, safe food handling, and early care-seeking remain effective measures against the virus, reiterating that the situation does not warrant alarm.
For updates, the public has been encouraged to follow official communications from the Ministry of Health.
