A platform for detecting and reporting priority and (re)emerging diseases and other public health threats in Kenya
Population-Based Integrated Disease Surveillance (PBIDS) is a disease surveillance platform that tracks health trends, detects outbreaks early, and helps combat antibiotic 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 (such as those for pneumonia and rotavirus), contributed to the development of new vaccines, and informed strategies to slow the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
PBIDS operates in seven counties across Kenya, chosen to reflect diverse health risks and environmental conditions. In 2024, PBIDS expanded to Isiolo County in northern Kenya and five additional sites to improve tracking of zoonotic diseases.
Generating critical data since 2006
Diverse health risks & environments
New sites in Isiolo & “Detect” locations
Enhanced tracking of animal-to-human diseases
Tracking Influenza, SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and other SARI/ILI pathogens.
Monitoring Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunya, and undifferentiated fevers.
Surveillance of Rotavirus, Cholera, Typhoid, and enteric pathogens.
Early detection of spillover events at the human-animal interface.
Since its launch in 2006, the PBIDS platform has been a cornerstone of disease detection, outbreak response, and health system strengthening in Kenya. Established through a partnership between KEMRI and the CDC, PBIDS has grown into one of the most comprehensive disease surveillance systems in sub-Saharan Africa.
Read more about ImpactAs disease threats evolve, so does PBIDS. In 2024, PBIDS expanded to Isiolo County and established five new “Detect” sites across Kenya, enhancing the early detection of (re)emerging infectious diseases and unusual disease events—especially those linked to climate change, wildlife contact, or livestock movements.
