The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the government of Kenya, Zoonotic Diseases Unit (ZDU) and other One Health sector stakeholders launched three One Health strategies that integrate human, animal and environmental health management for improved health security. The strategies are; One Health Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of Zoonotic Diseases in Kenya (2021-2025), the National Strategy for the prevention and control of anthrax in humans and animals in Kenya (2021-2036) and the National Strategy for the prevention and control of brucellosis in humans and animals in Kenya (2021-2040).

The One Health Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of Zoonotic Diseases in Kenya (2021-2025) was launched with a goal to reduce the burden of priority zoonotic diseases which will be achieved through the strengthened implementation of the One Health approach at the national and county levels and the promotion of applied research to fight those diseases using the One Health approach.

The health of humans and animals is interlinked with the environment. The majority of infectious diseases that affect human health are zoonotic (i.e. originate from animals and occur at the human-animal-environment interface). Kenya continues to experience annual outbreaks of zoonotic diseases including anthrax and brucellosis.

In Kenya, anthrax is the highest ranked zoonotic disease, based on a systematic analysis of burden, socioeconomic impact, epidemic potential, and severity of zoonotic diseases. According to national public health and veterinary records, an average of 10 Anthrax outbreaks involving animals with spill- over to humans occur every year. Anthrax is also a priority disease in Kenya’s National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS). Brucellosis is a priority zoonotic disease that causes significant losses in livestock production, negative socioeconomic impacts on livestock trade and a threat to public health in Kenya. It is mainly transmitted from infected animals to humans through contact or consumption of contaminated products like milk.

During the national launch, line ministries and participating partners reviewed the roadmap to a One Health Strategy, discussed opportunities for enhancement and the challenges of the implementation of the One Health approach as well as mapped funding sources and priorities for implementation of One Health approach.

During the official ceremony, FAO Representative in Kenya, Carla Mucavi, expressed concern over the increase of the burden on zoonotic diseases due to pathogen spill-over across the human-animal-

wildlife-environmental interface driven by climate change and rapid urbanization among others. She lauded the implementation of the One Health strategy which will enhance the national and county multisectoral coordination mechanisms in One Health programming. “I am optimistic that an Anthrax and Brucellosis free Kenya will reduce the negative impacts on public health, and animal health while contributing to food security, and nutrition, as well as the overall economic growth” said Mucavi.

“The unified collaborations towards addressing zoonotic disease outbreaks in the country has led to improved rapid response to outbreaks and coordinated disease control efforts”. The Cabinet secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Co-operatives, Peter Munya thanked FAO, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other development partners for their instrumental support towards the rollout of the One Health approaches in the country.”

This activity was supported by funded by the USAID and involved 120 participants (45 physical and 65 virtual)  from different government institutions and development organizations.

 One Health strategic plan to meet human, animal and environmental health challenges

Every day we hear about health challenges at the human-animal-environment interface. Zoonotic diseases such as avian influenza, rabies, Ebola, and Rift Valley fever, as well as food-borne diseases and antimicrobial resistance, continue to have major impacts on health, livelihoods, and economies, as stated by the Tripartite Guide to Addressing Zoonotic Diseases in Countries. 

Africa is part of the global efforts to support and implement One Health programming to combat zoonotic diseases at the human-animal-ecosystem interface. In Kenya, the National Strategic Plan for the implementation of One Health will be crucial in effectively achieving this in a  sustainable way. In addition, there have been several research activities particularly on zoonotic diseases carried out in the country from 2005 to date; some results of which were used in 2015 during the One Health Zoonotic Disease Prioritization workshop in Kenya, to identify zoonotic diseases that would benefit from integrated prevention and control programs using the One Health approach.

The three One Health strategies launched in Nairobi outline the country’s plan to strengthen the prevention, detection and response to infectious diseases that affect humans, animals and the environment. The three documents recognize the interconnectedness of the health of people to the health of animals and the environment, and offers a collaborative, multi-sectoral and transdisciplinary approach for zoonotic diseases.

For further information, contact person:

 Fasina Folorunso

FAO ECTAD Country Team Leader

FAO Kenya

Email: [email protected] 

Pauline Akolo

Communications Specialist

FAO Kenya

Email: [email protected]

Yanira Santana

Emergency Reporting and Outreach Specialist

FAO ECTAD Africa

Email : [email protected]