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Priority Wildlife Diseases

Monitoring and surveillance of critical wildlife diseases that threaten conservation efforts, ecosystem health, and public safety in Kenya. Our comprehensive disease monitoring program focuses on early detection and rapid response protocols.

Disease Categories

Zoonotic Diseases High Priority

Diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans, requiring immediate attention and coordinated response between wildlife and public health authorities.

Anthrax
Critical

Agent: Bacillus anthracis
Transmission: Direct contact, inhalation, ingestion

Acute bacterial infection affecting multiple wildlife species, particularly ungulates. High mortality rate in animals and potential for human infection.

Affected Species:
Buffalo Elephant Zebra Antelope
Active Surveillance
Rabies
Critical

Agent: Rabies virus
Transmission: Bite, scratch, aerosol

Fatal viral disease affecting the central nervous system. High risk for wildlife-human interface areas and tourism zones.

Affected Species:
Wild Dogs Hyenas Bats Jackals
Active Surveillance
Rift Valley Fever
High

Agent: Rift Valley fever virus
Transmission: Vector-borne (mosquitoes)

Viral zoonosis causing abortion storms in ruminants and severe illness in humans. Climate-sensitive disease linked to flooding.

Affected Species:
Buffalo Gazelles Impalas Waterbuck
Seasonal Monitoring
Brucellosis
High

Agent: Brucella species
Transmission: Direct contact, ingestion

Chronic bacterial infection causing reproductive failure in animals and undulant fever in humans.

Affected Species:
Buffalo Wildebeest Warthogs Primates
Research Priority

Endemic Wildlife Diseases

East Coast Fever
Endemic

Agent: Theileria parva
Vector: Brown ear tick

Tick-borne protozoan disease endemic in East Africa, affecting both wildlife and livestock with significant economic impact.

Routine Monitoring
Trypanosomiasis
Endemic

Agent: Trypanosoma species
Vector: Tsetse flies

Sleeping sickness in wildlife and livestock, maintaining natural transmission cycles in protected areas.

Routine Monitoring

Emerging & Re-emerging Diseases

Marburg Virus
Emerging

Agent: Marburg virus
Reservoir: Fruit bats

Highly lethal filovirus with spillover potential from bat populations to humans and other wildlife.

Enhanced Surveillance
Novel Coronavirus
Emerging

Agent: Various coronaviruses
Reservoir: Bats, other mammals

Surveillance for novel coronaviruses in wildlife populations following COVID-19 pandemic lessons.

Research Focus

Transboundary Animal Diseases

Foot-and-Mouth Disease
Transboundary

Agent: FMD virus
Transmission: Highly contagious

Highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals with significant trade and economic implications.

Cross-border Monitoring
Peste des Petits Ruminants
Transboundary

Agent: PPR virus
Transmission: Respiratory droplets

Highly contagious viral disease affecting small ruminants and some wildlife species.

Regional Surveillance
Disease Alert System
Current Status: Normal
No active disease outbreaks reported
Recent Alerts:
Dec 10
Anthrax Warning - Increased surveillance in Maasai Mara
Nov 28
All Clear - RVF monitoring concluded
Surveillance Statistics
1,247
Samples Tested
156
Active Monitoring Sites
23
Priority Diseases
8
Partner Labs
Disease Reporting

Report suspected wildlife disease cases or unusual mortality events.

Emergency Hotline:
📧 disease.alert@wrti.go.ke
Resources
Disease Identification Guide Surveillance Protocols Biosafety Guidelines Outbreak Response Plan