Kenya reports FMD outbreak in several counties

KENYA – The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has reported that between June and August 2026, a wave of FMD outbreaks caused by two laboratory-confirmed circulating serotypes, SAT 1 and SAT 2, were reported in Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Kisumu, Baringo, Kiambu, Kajiado, and Nyeri counties.

The Government’s immediate objective is to curb their spread through heightened surveillance, prompt laboratory confirmation, targeted vaccination, biosecurity, quarantine and movement control.

As at the date of this release, no case of FMD has been reported in wildlife. The Directorate of Veterinary Services and County Veterinary Services continue to investigate outbreaks and implement control measures in affected and high-risk areas.

Over the past 12 months, approximately 2 million cattle have been vaccinated against FMD, representing an estimated 30% of the national dairy cattle population.

Vaccination is not a substitute for biosecurity, early reporting and movement control. Early reporting enables rapid investigation, laboratory confirmation and timely response to prevent further spread.

The Directorate of Veterinary Services has called upon all farmers, animal-health service providers, livestock traders, transporters and other stakeholders to remain vigilant and cooperate with veterinary authorities.

Animal-health service providers are urged to immediately report suspected FMD cases through the relaunched Kenya Animal Biosurveillance System (KABS 2.0) and notify the relevant County Directorate of Veterinary Services through established reporting channels.

KABS 2.0 provides a digital platform to strengthen timely disease reporting, surveillance, early warning and coordinated response to priority animal diseases.

Animal-health service providers are encouraged to use the system to ensure that suspected cases are reported promptly and accurately.

Additionally, they should collect and submit appropriate samples from suspected cases, through the relevant County Veterinary Services, to the FMD National reference laboratory for confirmatory diagnosis, disease tracking, and effective vaccination intervention.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease of domestic animals including cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and wildlife like buffaloes.

 It causes fever, excessive salivation, mouth and foot lesions, lameness, a sudden decline in milk production and death especially among young animals. FMD causes major production losses and can disrupt livestock trade due to trade bans.

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