Kenya is currently experiencing a dengue fever outbreak in the North Eastern regions of the country. The Division of Disease Surveillance and Response approximates that to date more than 10,000 people have been affected with five confirmed deaths. The biting drought has significantly increased mobility of the pastoralist population in the affected county in search [...]

The emerging health challenges that characterise the 21st century such as  explosive population growth, increased mobility, urbanisation, poverty and climate change are straining the already overwhelmed health care systems of especially developing countries. This is coupled with the financial crisis, political unrest and unpredictable weather patterns. In response to this challenge, the University of Bielefeld [...]

The “Spanish” influenza pandemic of 1918–1919, caused approximately 50 million deaths worldwide. Up to 500 million people were infected and some argue that the fatalities could have been up to 100 million. Epidemics and pandemics remain an ominous public health threat.  If the next pandemic plays out like the 1918 pandemic, the proportion of deaths [...]

Kenya has joined several other developing countries in phasing out the traditional paperwork system in disease surveillance. The use of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) in facilitating health surveys, patient assessment and follow up is gradually rolling out. The Coast Provincial General Hospital, which hosts one of the twenty-four Influenza Sentinel Surveillance sites in the country boasts [...]

More than three decades ago, it was believed that antibiotics, vaccines and hygiene had conquered infectious diseases. The same cannot be said today as the threat of infectious diseases has re-emerged with a vengeance. Silver bullet vaccines are being rendered useless and emergence of new agents like Ebola are worrying. Preventive interventions are slowly gaining [...]

The successful integration of influenza surveillance activities within the  routine processes of the Nakuru Provincial General Hospital (PGH) presents a best practice that can be utilised as a reference point in improving performance in other Influenza Sentinel Surveillance sites in the country. Nakuru PGH has integrated surveillance activities to routine hospital activities, a step that [...]

Kenya, like other developing countries, is vulnerable to public health emergencies and other crises because its health system is often insufficiently prepared and already overburdened. As a result, any response is untimely, poorly coordinated and ultimately ineffective. For this reason, the German Pandemic Preparedness Initiative (PPI) has broadened its focus from influenza preparedness to include Public [...]

Using mobile technology in Disease Surveillance and Response could greatly improve timely access to health services especially in rural areas of the country. A report by Dheyi Kumar of PEPFAR Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) shows that a PPP venture in Tanzania called mHealth Tanzania has reduced by up to seven days the time it takes [...]

The Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation (MOPHS) has initiated the process of adapting and adopting the 2nd edition of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response Technical Guidelines (2010). The technical guidelines are meant to serve as a general reference for surveillance activities, improving early detection and preparedness activities to facilitate timely investigation of outbreaks. The [...]

The Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation (MoPHS) has established a network of 24 influenza sentinel surveillance sites in districts located in high-risk zones (these are districts that are prone to influenza outbreaks such as those in North Eastern Province). Influenza Sentinel Surveillance is crucial for early detection of  possible outbreaks and changes in behaviour [...]