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El Niño rains raise Rift Valley fever risk in Eastern Africa, six countries at highest risk
quito breeding sites and may disrupt veterinary services. Current El Niño conditions are comparable to those of 1997 and 1998, when one of the largest recorded epidemics affected the region.The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have issued a new warning that El Niño rainfall and flooding are raising the risk of Rift Valley fever outbreaks across Eastern Africa.
In its latest alert, issued on 30 October 2026, FAO assessed Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda as facing the highest risk. Risk is also increasing in Burundi and Rwanda.
Rift Valley fever is a viral disease that affects livestock, including cattle, sheep, goats, buffaloes and camels, and can also infect people. The virus spreads mainly through mosquitoes, and people can also be infected through direct contact with infected animals or animal products. FAO said heavy rain and flooding expand mos
FAO's Rift Valley Fever Early Warning Decision Support Tool forecasts that conditions suitable for transmission will increase across much of Eastern Africa between October 2026 and January 2027. Tanzania has the largest area classed as suitable, followed by Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan and southern Sudan. New suitable areas have emerged in southern Somalia, Rwanda and Burundi.
FAO and IGAD urged affected countries to strengthen risk based surveillance, position vaccines and essential supplies in advance, and coordinate action across human health, animal health and environmental sectors through a One Health approach.
Source: FAO and IGAD
Urge Inside Health| East Africa. Urge- DevWire
Health and climate | Eastern Africa | 30 October 2026
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