# Other disease outbreaks in Somalia: Rift Valley fever, kala-azar, dengue and mpox

> The smaller disease outbreaks in Somalia: Rift Valley fever in 1997–98 and 2006–07, kala-azar in Erigavo in 2025, the 2026 dengue outbreak in Somaliland, and the mpox alert of 2024.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/society/other-disease-outbreaks-in-somalia/
Last checked: 2026-11-13
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## In short

| Disease | When | Where | Cases and deaths | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rift Valley fever | 1997–98 | Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania | not given for Somalia | WHO Africa |
| Rift Valley fever | Dec 2006 – Feb 2007 | Somalia | 114 cases, 51 deaths | WHO Africa |
| Kala-azar (leishmaniasis) | Jan – Feb 2025 | Erigavo district, Sanaag | 5 cases, 2 deaths | IFRC |
| Dengue | from Feb 2026 | Togdheer, Maroodi Jeex, Sahil | 1,442 cases in one week, 1 death | IFRC |
| Mpox | Aug 2024 | none found | 0 | Ministry of Health |

The large outbreaks have their own pages: [cholera](/en/society/cholera-in-somalia/), [measles](/en/society/measles-in-somalia/), [polio](/en/society/polio-in-somalia/), [diphtheria](/en/society/diphtheria-2023-2025/) and [COVID-19](/en/society/covid-19-in-somalia/).

## Rift Valley fever

WHO's Africa office says that in 1997–98 "a major outbreak occurred in Kenya, [Somalia and Tanzania](/en/relations/tanzania/) following El Niño event and extensive flooding" ([WHO Regional Office for Africa, Rift Valley fever](https://afro.who.int/fr/node/591)).

It returned in late 2006:

- **30 January 2007.** WHO reported 100 suspected cases, including 48 deaths, in Somalia. Only one was confirmed in a laboratory, by the Kenya Medical Research Institute and the US CDC. Médecins Sans Frontières helped carry samples, and WHO trained Somali medical officers. WHO said "the deteriorating security situation continues to hamper control measures in the affected area" ([WHO Disease Outbreak News, 31 January 2007](https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2007DON070)).
- **Final count.** From 19 December 2006 to 20 February 2007, "a total of 114 cases including 51 deaths was reported in Somalia" (WHO Regional Office for Africa).

## Kala-azar in Sanaag, 2025

From 3 January 2025, [Erigavo](/en/regions/sanaag/) Regional Hospital reported five cases of leishmaniasis, "a disease not historically prevalent in those areas of [Somaliland](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/)". Two people died, from Rugay and Cirshiida in Erigavo district. A case confirmed on 26 February 2025 was of the kala-azar (visceral) type ([ReliefWeb, Somalia: Leishmaniasis Outbreak – Mar 2025](https://reliefweb.int/disaster/ep-2025-000182-som); IFRC, 19 March 2025).

The [Somali Red Crescent Society](/en/institutions/somali-red-crescent-society/), with IFRC emergency funds, ran case detection, treatment, vector control and awareness campaigns. The IFRC reported "a noticeable decline in cases across all affected districts" (IFRC, 1 October 2025).

## Dengue in Somaliland, 2026

On **24 February 2026** Somaliland's Ministry of Health Development declared a dengue outbreak. The worst-hit regions were [Togdheer](/en/regions/togdheer/), [Maroodi Jeex](/en/regions/woqooyi-galbeed/) and [Sahil](/en/regions/sahil/). In epidemiological week 7 of 2026 alone, 1,442 cases were reported: 50.5% female and 63.5% over five years old. One death was recorded that week ([ReliefWeb, Somalia: Dengue Outbreak – Feb 2026](https://reliefweb.int/disaster/ep-2026-000039-som); IFRC, 13 March 2026).

## Mpox alert, 2024

In August 2024, as mpox spread in East Africa, the Federal Ministry of Health and Human Services launched an awareness campaign. It said its surveillance team had not detected or reported any cases in Somalia ([SOOHA, 14 August 2024](https://sooha.org/en/2024/08/14/somalia-launches-awareness-campaign-on-mpox/)).

## Sources

- WHO Regional Office for Africa. [Rift Valley fever](https://afro.who.int/fr/node/591).
- WHO (2007). [Disease Outbreak News: Rift Valley fever in Kenya and Somalia](https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2007DON070), 31 January 2007.
- ReliefWeb. [Somalia: Leishmaniasis Outbreak – Mar 2025](https://reliefweb.int/disaster/ep-2025-000182-som) (IFRC, 19 March and 1 October 2025).
- ReliefWeb. [Somalia: Dengue Outbreak – Feb 2026](https://reliefweb.int/disaster/ep-2026-000039-som) (IFRC, 13 March 2026).
- SOOHA (2024). [Somalia launches awareness campaign on mpox](https://sooha.org/en/2024/08/14/somalia-launches-awareness-campaign-on-mpox/), 14 August 2024.

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