Droughts, famines and displacement
Other disease outbreaks in Somalia: Rift Valley fever, kala-azar, dengue and mpox
Besides cholera, measles, polio and diphtheria, Somalia has had outbreaks of Rift Valley fever (1997–98 and 2006–07, when WHO counted 114 cases and 51 deaths in Somalia), kala-azar in Sanaag (2025) and dengue in Somaliland (declared 24 February 2026). In August 2024 the federal health ministry said no mpox cases had been found in Somalia.
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, measles, polio, diphtheria and COVID-19.
Rift Valley fever
WHO's Africa office says that in 1997–98 "a major outbreak occurred in Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania following El Niño event and extensive flooding" (WHO Regional Office for Africa, Rift Valley fever).
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).
- 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 Regional Hospital reported five cases of leishmaniasis, "a disease not historically prevalent in those areas of Somaliland". 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; IFRC, 19 March 2025).
The 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, Maroodi Jeex and 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; 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).
Sources
- WHO Regional Office for Africa. Rift Valley fever.
- WHO (2007). Disease Outbreak News: Rift Valley fever in Kenya and Somalia, 31 January 2007.
- ReliefWeb. Somalia: Leishmaniasis Outbreak – Mar 2025 (IFRC, 19 March and 1 October 2025).
- ReliefWeb. Somalia: Dengue Outbreak – Feb 2026 (IFRC, 13 March 2026).
- SOOHA (2024). Somalia launches awareness campaign on mpox, 14 August 2024.
Sources
- WHO Regional Office for Africa, Rift Valley fever · afro.who.int
- WHO Disease Outbreak News, 31 January 2007 · who.int
- ReliefWeb, Somalia: Leishmaniasis Outbreak – Mar 2025 · reliefweb.int
- ReliefWeb, Somalia: Dengue Outbreak – Feb 2026 · reliefweb.int
- SOOHA, 14 August 2024 · sooha.org
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Keep reading
- Disasters in Somalia: a list from 1974 to 2026A list of every recorded disaster in Somalia from the 1974 drought to the 2026 dengue outbreak, year by year, with deaths and people affected and a link to the full page or UN record.
- Famines and droughts in Somalia: a timeline and the Somali names for themA timeline of droughts and famines in Somalia from 1913 to 2023, with the Somali names given to each, deaths where estimated, and links to the full pages.
- Rain, drought and floods in Somalia: the Gu and Deyr seasons and the great droughtsSomalia's rainy seasons (Gu and Deyr), the great droughts from 1974 to today, the death tolls, the 2023 floods, and what changed after the 2011 famine.
- The Somalia famine of 2010 to 2012: what happened and how many diedThe 2010 to 2012 famine in southern Somalia: the drought, the famine declarations region by region, the blocked aid, the death toll by region, the refugees and how it ended.
- The Somalia famine of 1991 to 1993 (Caga Barar): causes, deaths and reliefThe 1991 to 1993 famine in southern Somalia: how war and drought caused it, Baidoa and the camps, the death toll, the Red Cross and UN response, and how it ended.
- The Somalia drought of 2016 to 2018: famine warned, famine avertedThe 2016 to 2018 drought in Somalia: the poor rains, the national disaster, cholera and displacement, the cash response, the death toll and why famine was not declared.