Poster Presenters

Background:Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral disease transmitted by Aedes species and remains a significant public health threat in coastal Kenya, causing recurrent outbreaks. In 2025, Mombasa County reported the highest burden nationally, highlighting the need for an effective surveillance system. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the chikungunya surveillance system implemented through the All-Disease Outbreak Module (ADaM) and to describe cases by person, place, and time.

Methods: A mixed-methods cross-sectional evaluation was conducted following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Quantitative data were collected using structured questionnaires from health workers, while qualitative data were obtained through key informant interviews. Retrospective surveillance data (MOH 503) were analyzed descriptively. Quantitative data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel, and qualitative data were analyzed thematically.

Results: A total of 51 respondents (38 frontline workers and 13 managers) participated. Only 15.8% had received ADaM training, and 84.2% had used the system for less than one month. The system was used for case reporting by 79.4%. Timeliness showed that 81.6% of cases were reported within 48 hours. However, 65.8% reported difficulty using the system, 68.4% required technical support, and 42.1% took more than 20 minutes to complete reports. Acceptability was 21%. Data completeness exceeded 93% for demographic variables but was lower for clinical and laboratory variables.  

A total of 609 cases were analyzed. The median age was 27 years (IQR: 23), with the 20–29 age group most affected. Females accounted for more cases than males. Likoni sub-county reported 38.4% of cases, with peaks in epidemiological weeks 23–24. Key challenges included insufficient training (76.9%), poor internet connectivity (69.2%), and system slowness (46.2%).

Conclusion:The system showed moderate performance but had gaps in training, usability, acceptability, and data quality. Strengthening system capacity and functionality is necessary to improve surveillance and control of vector-borne diseases.

Background: Globally, rotavirus causes 25 million outpatient visits and 2 million hospitalizations each year. In Kenya, rotavirus trends are monitored using data from sentinel surveillance. We evaluated the Rotavirus surveillance system in Nairobi County to assess its performance and characterize cases reported through the system.

Methods: We abstracted rotavirus case data from surveillance registers and laboratory records and administered a semi structured questionnaire to assess surveillance system attributes as defined in the US CDC framework for surveillance system evaluation. Attributes assessed included usefulness, acceptability, and stability. Continuous data were summarized using means and medians and categorical data using frequencies and proportions. Authorization was obtained from the Kenya National Public Health Institute.

Results:

In 2024-2025, 205 cases of acute gastroenteritis were reported among children

Introduction:
Kenya experienced enhanced rainfall from September 2023 through February 2024 attributed to the El Niño phenomenon, with peak rainfall initially forecasted for November–December 2023 by the Kenya Meteorological Department but extending into early 2024. The prolonged heavy rains resulted in flooding, displacement, infrastructure damage, and heightened risk of climate-sensitive health threats. We aimed to describe the public health impacts of this event and the coordinated, multi-sectoral response undertaken within a One Health framework.

Methods:
Data was collected from the National Disaster Operations Centre, Kenya Meteorological Department, and all 47 counties using a structured reporting tool disseminated to County Disease Surveillance Coordinators. Daily reports captured meteorological alerts, affected households, injuries, deaths, displacement, gender-based violence (GBV), disease outbreaks, and damage to health infrastructure. Data were analyzed daily and disseminated through Situation Reports (SitReps) to Ministry of Health leadership, partners, and counties to guide timely decision-making and response actions.

Results:
Data from NDOC indicated 175 deaths, 40 missing persons, and 242 injuries. Additionally, 60,367 households were affected, displacing 384,216 individuals into 170 IDP camps. A 5% (64/1434) of health facilities across 11 counties became inaccessible. Climate-sensitive disease threats emerged, including cholera (409 cases, 4 deaths; CFR 0.97%) affecting 5/47 counties–predominantly Lamu 80% (326). Seven (7) human Rift Valley Fever cases were reported in Marsabit 71% (5) and Wajir 29% (2), alongside livestock cases. Malaria upsurges were documented in Wajir (373), Marsabit (975), and Kitui (535). Social vulnerabilities were exacerbated, with 50 GBV cases reported across 9/47 counties.

Conclusion:
The El Niño phenomenon highlights the growing intersection between climate variability and health security in Kenya. Strengthening integrated human–animal–environment surveillance, early warning systems, resilient health infrastructure, and risk communication is critical. A One Health, whole-of-government approach remains essential to mitigating climate-sensitive health threats and enhancing national preparedness and resilience.

EXPLORING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A PATENTED EXTEMPORANEOUS PREPARATION (SPHEDM-S) ON CHRONIC WOUND MANAGEMENT.

Authors: Dr. James Katoloki 1, Dr Divinah Onchari 2, Dr Tejal Patel 3, Prof Charity Gichuki 4, Dr. Joyster Mungania 5

Surgical department, Meru Teaching & Referral Hospital 1,2,5 The Aga Khan University Hospital 3  Meru University of Science and Technology 4

Background: Chronic wounds are a silent epidemic, and their management has an economic impact on the healthcare system due to their increasing prevalence, complications, and cost. The burden is high in low- and middle-income countries. Sphedm-S is a patented topical extemporaneous preparation innovated by pharmacists in Meru County. It contains various agents that encourage a suitable wound-healing environment using different mechanisms of action for wound healing. A pilot study was initiated to investigate the effectiveness of Sphedm-S on chronic wound management. 

Setting: The study took place in Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital, in the outpatient wound clinic and the inpatient surgical wards.

Methodology: Patients with diabetic foot ulcers, extensive burn wounds, venous ulcers, and pressure ulcers for over a month were randomly sampled and enrolled in the study. Sphedm-S was applied directly to the wounds during wound dressing by qualified nursing personnel. The parameters used to assess the product’s effectiveness were a decrease in wound size and depth, changes in the general appearance of the wound, and the time taken for wound healing.

Results: Notable improvement was observed in the sampled cases. The wounds became odorless with reduced pain, they granulated faster, there was a significant reduction in sepsis, and stimulated epithelialization, including skin regrowth.  

Conclusion: Sphedm-S had the overall effect of reducing time taken for chronic wound healing, improving quality of life of patient, and reducing wound management costs. There’s a need for more research on the product's scalability in improving wound care practice.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is still one of the world's top causes of death and serious public health concern. Nearly 3 million cases of TB are reported among women each year, indicating the disease's substantial impact on human population. In Rwanda little was known about knowledge and attitudes towards TB especially among women. This study aimed to evaluate Socioeconomic and Health-Related Factors Associated with Knowledge and Attitude Towards TB Among Women in Rwanda.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out using the 2019–2020 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS) secondary data from 14,634 Rwandan women between the ages of 15 and 49. To ensure validity and generalizable results, survey weighting and statistical commands were used. Knowledge and attitude were categorized with more than 50% for good knowledge and positive attitude. Bivariate and Multivariate logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with TB knowledge and attitudes, with a 95% Confidence interval and p

Introduction: On 3rd September,2025, Nyamira County reported 33 cases of an acute foodborne illness outbreak in Nyakeore Village. This investigation aimed to confirm the existence of the outbreak, identify the source of contamination, evaluate response performance, and recommend prevention and control measures.

Methods: A descriptive study was conducted, followed by an unmatched 1:1 case-control study. The cases were individuals who presented with abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhoea in Nyakeore village between 31st August to 6th September 2025, while controls were asymptomatic neighbours selected conveniently in Nyakeore village during the same period. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire that included demographics, symptoms and exposure information. Hospital, laboratory and veterinary records were also reviewed. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted and presented in frequency, proportions and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals.

Results: We identified 24 (50%) individuals who developed symptoms among the exposed. The Median age was 19.5 years (IQR 12.7-35), and males were the majority, 14 (58%). The main symptoms were diarrhoea in 24 (100%) cases, with an average of two episodes, headache in 15 (63%) cases, and fever in 12 (50%) cases; no deaths were reported. The epidemic curve showed a point-source outbreak with a peak on 2nd September 2025, 48 hours after exposure. There was a strong association between the foodborne illness and consumption of red muscle meat (OR 9.23; 95% CI 2.46–34.58; p=0.0014) and untreated water (OR 4.86; 95% CI 1.43–16.5; p=0.0208).

Conclusions: The outbreak suggests the consumption of meat from the dead cow and unsafe drinking water. The notification and response were timely. We recommend collaboration between the veterinary and public health sectors to conduct community sensitization on the proper disposal of animal carcasses, especially livestock. Community members should consume meat that has been inspected by a veterinary officer.

Introduction: Kenya recorded an index mpox case on July 31, 2024; in a border-town—Taita-Taveta. Subsequently, transmission spread to other counties, due to community transmission. The investigation described twelve months of mpox outbreak to guide strategic interventions.

Methods: We conducted a deep dive analysis on all mpox cases in Kenya from July 2024 through July 2025. The data were obtained from the public health emergency operation centers, and national and subnational laboratories. An mpox cases were individual with laboratory positive real-time polymerase chain reaction test results. We analysed data through descriptive statistics. 

Results: There were 905 samples tested and Mpox virus was detected on 314 (34.7%) between July 31, 2024–July 31, 2025. The mean age of cases was 32±11 years, majority (267) 85% 20-49 years age and males were 161 (51%). Mpox case fatality rate was 1.6% (5/314). Mpox was reported among 22/47 (46.8%) Counties. Travel history among 16 (25%) cases was linked to Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. As January 31, 2025, the country had reported 37 cases with one death affecting 17 Counties by 31st January and 314 cases, five death affecting 22 Counties by July of 2025. Mpox spread shifted in the following order among truck drivers, female sex workers and community members from 40%, 40% and 20% on 31st Aug 2024 among 5 cases to 15 (6.1%), 10 (4%) and 222 (89.9%) on 31st July 2025 among 247 cases. There were 31 co-morbidities among 247 (78.7%) cases—HIV 23 (74.2%), hypertension 3 (9.7%) and diabetes 2 (6.5%) with four (12.9%) death. HIV complications caused 3 (9.7%) co-morbidity death.

Conclusion: Shift on Mpox spread patterns from key populations to general community.  HIV-patients predisposed to severe mpox outcomes. The report generated recommendations for public health actors, to target interventions—sensitizations, mpox vaccinations and strengthen surveillance.

Background: Mpox (Monkey Pox) has emerged into a significant public health security threat across East and Central Africa due to highly transmissible variant, leading to Continental and International declarations in 2024.  Nakuru County in Kenya is particularly vulnerable as it’s located along the Northern Corridor, a major transit route frequented by long‑distance truck drivers and sex workers classified at most-risk groups. The County recorded its first Mpox case on August 31st 2024, involving a truck driver arriving from Rwanda, underscoring the County’s susceptibility to cross‑border importation and onward spread of the disease.

Methods: Using a precision public health lens to contain Mpox the County identified high risk zones through resolution surveillance, rapid case identification, active case search and real time digital reporting for coordinated response. Workforce capacity was strengthened by training TOTs, sensitizing community health promoters and equipping community resource persons across nine hotspots prompting targeted MVA-BN vaccination to high-risk mobile groups. Media Caucus unified messaging, countered misinformation and reinforced community trust.

Results: Nakuru’s targeted Mpox response combined hotspot mapping, community surveillance, IPC enforcement and media engagement to improve detection, lower hospital burden and reduce misclassification. A September 2025 vaccination drive achieved 105% coverage among 2,700 high‑risk individuals, disrupting transmission and reducing reported cases.  These combined gains enabled a sustained decline in alerts and a smooth transition toward routine surveillance and community‑level resilience.

Conclusion: Nakuru’s experience demonstrates that precision public health anchored in hotspot mapping, community driven surveillance, high‑risk vaccination, capacity building and infodemic control can successfully shift a setting from high‑risk to resilience. This proven model not only contained Mpox but also reduced case incidence, strengthened routine and community‑based event‑based surveillance systems offering a scalable, sustainable blueprint for Mpox containment in high‑mobility cross‑border contexts.

Introduction

Snakebite envenomation (SBE) remains a public health issue in Kenya disproportionately affecting rural and pastoralist populations. Despite increasing epidemiological, clinical, and public health attention, limited research has examined how gender and other social stratifiers intersect to shape people’s vulnerability to snakebite, perception of risk, and access to care. This study explored the gendered and intersectional dimensions of snakebite among pastoralist communities in Samburu County, Kenya.

Methods

The study adopted an exploratory qualitative design. Data was collected through 25 in-depth interviews, 3 focus group discussions, and 7 key informant interviews with snakebite survivors, community members, community health workers, and healthcare providers. Transect walks and unstructured observations complemented these interviews to contextualize gendered practices around risk and treatment. Data was thematically analyzed using NVivo software.

Results

Findings indicated that knowledge of snakes and snakebite risk was generally shared among men and women but largely nested in lived experiences. We found that gendered divisions of labor, structural marginalization and environmental exposure influenced risks to snakebite. Men’s pastoral roles increased vulnerability in grazing areas, while women and children faced risks around homesteads due to their roles in water collection, construction of traditional houses and milking of livestock during the evenings and early mornings. Perceptions about snakebite included clinical and cultural explanations, with some bites interpreted as accidental while others required ritual cleansing. Access to clinical treatment was dictated by gender norms, financial dependency on men and geographical obstacles. Snakebite-related physical disability and mortality had gendered socio-economic consequences by destabilizing families and household responsibilities and contributing to psychological trauma and stigma. 

Conclusion

Snakebite risk and treatment in Samburu were rooted within gendered social relations, cultural beliefs, and structural inequities. Addressing the burden of snakebite requires intersectional, community-based interventions that integrate gender-responsive health education, improved healthcare access, and engagement with local health systems.

Introduction:
Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is a global health priority that aims to ensure all individuals access essential health services without financial hardship. In Kenya, UHC was introduced as a major health reform strategy to improve access to quality healthcare. World Health Organization has strongly promoted UHC as part of the global health agenda under United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Kisumu County was selected as one of the pilot counties due to its high disease burden and need for improved health services.

Aim:
The study aimed to assess public health interventions implemented in Kisumu County and evaluate their contribution toward achieving Universal Health Coverage.

Methods:
The study adopted a descriptive case study design conducted in Kisumu County in western Kenya. The target population included health workers, public health officers, community health volunteers, health facility managers, and residents accessing healthcare services. Stratified random sampling was used to select respondents. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, and document reviews of health policies and reports. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages, while qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results:
The study found that several interventions supported UHC implementation, including community health programs, county health insurance initiatives, strengthened primary healthcare services, and preventive health campaigns. These interventions increased healthcare utilization, improved maternal and child health services, reduced financial barriers to healthcare, and enhanced community awareness. However, challenges such as limited funding, healthcare workforce shortages, inadequate equipment, and weak coordination between national and county governments affected implementation.

Conclusion:
The study concluded that public health interventions significantly contributed to improving healthcare access in Kisumu County. However, increased funding, improved infrastructure, and stronger health workforce capacity were necessary to ensure sustainable achievement of Universal Health Coverage.

Background

Since July 2024, Kenya has experienced an Mpox outbreak caused by a newly identified Monkeypox virus (MPXV) variant, believed to have originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and spread across multiple countries. The first confirmed Kenyan case was reported on July 21, 2024, followed by a steady rise in incidence. Health authorities responded with enhanced surveillance, contact tracing, and vaccination in the most affected regions. At Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital (CGTRH)–Utange Field Hospital, 537Mpox patients have been admitted, with cases reported across several Mombasa sub-counties. Upon admission, both patients and caregivers exhibited limited awareness of Mpox.

Objective

To assess delays in healthcare seeking behavior among Mpox patients admitted to the Utange isolation unit and identify reasons for delayed presentation.

Methods

A retrospective review of clinical records was conducted for patients admitted with Mpox. In-depth interviews were held during admission assessments and daily ward rounds. Data on symptom onset and timing of healthcare engagement were collected and analyzed.

Results

Among 537 patient records reviewed, 74.1% sought care within one week of symptom onset, while 18.2% delayed more than a week, and 7.6% could not recall the timing. Delays were commonly linked to low disease awareness and misattribution of symptoms to other illnesses.

Conclusion

A substantial number of patients delayed seeking care, often presenting with advanced symptoms, complicating treatment and recovery. Strengthening public health education on Mpox symptoms particularly how to differentiate them from other sexually transmitted infections is critical for early diagnosis, effective clinical management, and outbreak control.

Introduction:
Febrile rash illnesses remain a major public health concern in Kenya. Routine surveillance primarily targets measles and rubella; however, approximately 50–60% of suspected measles cases test negative for both viruses, leaving many cases without a confirmed etiology. Arboviruses such as dengue virus (DENV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV), and Zika virus (ZIKV) can present with similar symptoms, including fever and rash, and may therefore remain undetected within current surveillance systems. Failure to identify these infections may obscure the true burden of arboviral diseases and delay outbreak detection.

Aim:
This study investigated whether arboviral infections contributed to suspected measles cases that tested negative for measles and rubella in Kenya.

Methods:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 392 serum samples collected between 2008 and 2014 from suspected measles cases that tested negative for measles and rubella IgM antibodies. Samples were obtained from health facilities in Nairobi, the Coastal region (Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Taita-Taveta, Tana River, and Lamu), and North-Eastern Kenya (Wajir, Mandera, and Garissa). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were used to detect IgM and IgG antibodies against DENV, CHIKV, and ZIKV, with confirmation by plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNT).

Results:
Evidence of both recent and past arboviral infections was detected. Active infections included dengue virus (45.5%), chikungunya virus (0.3%), and Zika virus (0.8%). Past dengue infection was confirmed in 17 samples (56.7%), and one sample (10.0%) showed prior chikungunya exposure. Additional arboviruses identified included O’nyong-nyong virus (9.0%), West Nile virus (10.0%), and yellow fever virus (6.7%). Arboviruses were detected throughout the study period and across most study regions.

Conclusion:
Arboviruses contribute substantially to measles- and rubella-negative febrile rash illnesses in Kenya, revealing a key diagnostic gap in surveillance algorithms. Integrating tiered testing for dengue, chikungunya, and Zika into routine surveillance would improve case classification, outbreak detection, and strengthen national preparedness systems efforts.