NAIROBI, Kenya- The Ministry of Health has issued an urgent advisory to counties across the country following a hantavirus outbreak linked to a Dutch-flagged cruise ship that has so far left three people dead.
In a directive dated May 8, 2026, Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni Muriuki ordered county health officials and medical facilities to immediately activate preparedness and surveillance measures amid fears of possible international spread.
According to the advisory, the outbreak was first reported to the World Health Organization by the United Kingdom on May 2 after several passengers aboard the cruise ship developed severe respiratory illness.
Laboratory testing conducted in South Africa later confirmed hantavirus infection in one patient.
As of May 7, health authorities had recorded eight cases, five confirmed and three suspected, including three deaths.
The cruise ship reportedly carries 147 individuals, including passengers and crew members from 23 countries such as the United States, Canada, India, Japan, Singapore, France and Australia.
The Ministry noted that although the WHO currently assesses the global risk as low, previous infectious disease outbreaks have demonstrated how rapidly illnesses can spread across continents.
“Although WHO’s assessment has determined the risk to the global population from this event as low, it should be acknowledged that previous minor outbreaks of infectious diseases rapidly spread from one continent to another,” the advisory stated.
The government has now directed counties to strengthen surveillance at all border points, especially airports handling travelers from the affected countries.
County governments have also been instructed to activate Public Health Emergency Operation Centres, prepare quarantine and isolation facilities, and conduct training on hantavirus detection, infection prevention, case management and risk communication.
Health facilities have been further ordered to stock adequate infection prevention and control commodities as part of preparedness efforts.
Hantavirus is primarily transmitted through contact with urine, saliva or droppings of infected rodents, or by touching contaminated surfaces.
The disease is characterised by symptoms such as fever, headache, dizziness, chills, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea before progressing to respiratory distress and low blood pressure.
According to the Ministry, symptoms can appear between one and eight weeks after exposure.
There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine for hantavirus, although officials say early supportive care and intensive medical attention significantly improve survival chances.
The Ministry also directed healthcare workers to intensify public awareness campaigns on rodent control and hygiene practices, including proper food storage, sealing entry points in homes and safe cleaning of rodent-infested areas.
Kenyans have been urged not to panic but to remain vigilant and observe public health guidance as authorities continue monitoring the situation.
