Kenya Disease Surveillance Network

Population-Based
Integrated Disease Surveillance

Detecting threats, guiding responses, and strengthening Kenya's health system through 20+ years of real-time disease surveillance data.

View Impact About PBIDS

PBIDS — At a Glance

Population-Based Integrated Disease Surveillance (PBIDS) is Kenya's premier platform for tracking health trends, detecting outbreaks early, and combating antimicrobial resistance. PBIDS provides real-time monitoring of common and emerging illnesses—including influenza, Ebola, mpox, and COVID-19—enabling rapid public health responses and timely interventions.

For nearly 20 years, PBIDS has generated critical data to better understand the spread and impact of respiratory, diarrheal, and febrile illnesses at the local, regional, and national levels. These insights have supported the rollout of key vaccines (pneumonia, rotavirus), contributed to new vaccine development, and informed strategies against antimicrobial resistance.

PBIDS operates in seven counties across Kenya, chosen to reflect diverse health risks and environmental conditions. In 2024, the network expanded to Isiolo County and five additional "Detect" sites to improve tracking of zoonotic diseases.

Why It Matters

Early threat detection — Identifies emerging disease threats before they escalate into outbreaks

Vaccine programmes — Guides pneumococcal, rotavirus and new vaccine rollout decisions

Community tracking — Maps disease spread across Kenya's diverse health environments

Outbreak response — Improves speed and accuracy of public health interventions

By the numbers

PBIDS in Figures

20+

Years of Operation

Generating critical surveillance data since 2006

Counties Served

Representing diverse health risks and environments

2024

Major Expansion

New Isiolo County site and 5 Detect locations added

Zoonotic Sites

Enhanced human-animal interface disease tracking

Surveillance Focus

Priority Disease Areas

PBIDS monitors four categories of high-priority illness across its network of sites

Respiratory Illness

Tracking Influenza, SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and other SARI/ILI pathogens across all age groups

Febrile Illness

Monitoring Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunya, and undifferentiated fever presentations

Diarrheal Disease

Surveillance of Rotavirus, Cholera, Typhoid, and enteric pathogen transmission

Zoonotic Threats

Early detection of spillover events at the human-animal interface in high-risk areas

Since 2006

PBIDS Impact

Since its launch, the PBIDS platform has been a cornerstone of disease detection, outbreak response, and health system strengthening in Kenya. Established through a KEMRI–CDC partnership, PBIDS has grown into one of the most comprehensive disease surveillance systems in sub-Saharan Africa.

Growing Reach, Greater Protection

As disease threats evolve, so does PBIDS. In 2024, the network expanded to Isiolo County and established five new "Detect" sites across Kenya—enhancing early detection of (re)emerging infectious diseases linked to climate change, wildlife contact, or livestock movements.

Learn about expansion