Health ministry warns long rains may trigger cholera, malaria

Nearly four hours of torrential rains wreaked havoc in Nairobi, leading to fatalities, property damage, and displacement of residents. March 7, 2026. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Ministry of Health has warned that the ongoing March-April-May (MAM) long rains may cause a surge in disease outbreaks, even as cholera burns through four counties and floods have already killed at least 25 people across 11 other counties.

Nairobi, Kisumu, Migori and Kwale are grappling with a cholera outbreak declared in late February 2025, with 256 suspected cases and 13 deaths recorded, pushing the case fatality rate to 5.2 per cent, far above the one per cent threshold that signals adequate treatment.