Background The poliovirus has been targeted for eradication since 1988. Kenya reported its last case of indigenous Wild Poliovirus (WPV) in 1984 but suffered from an outbreak of circulating Vaccine-derived Poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in 2018. We aimed to describe Kenya’s polio surveillance performance 2016–2018 using WHO recommended polio surveillance standards. Methods Retrospective secondary data analysis was conducted using Kenyan AFP surveillance case-based database from 2016 to 2018. Analyses were carried out using Epi-Info statistical software (version 7) and mapping was done using Quantum Geographic Information System (GIS) (version 3.4.1). Results Kenya reported 1706 cases of AFP from 2016 to 2018. None of the cases were confirmed as poliomyelitis. However, 23 (1.35%) were classified as polio compatible. Children under 5 years accounted for 1085 (63.6%) cases, 937 (55.0%) cases were boys, and 1503 (88.1%) cases had received three or more doses of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV). AFP detection rate substantially increased over the years; however, the prolonged health workers strike in 2017 negatively affected key surveillance activities. The mean Non-Polio (NP-AFP) rate during the study period was 2.87/ 100,000 children under 15 years, and two adequate specimens were collected for 1512 (88.6%) AFP cases. Cumulatively, 31 (66.0%) counties surpassed target for both WHO recommended AFP quality indicators. Conclusions The performance of Kenya’s AFP surveillance system surpassed the minimum WHO recommended targets for both non-polio AFP rate and stool adequacy during the period studied. In order to strengthen the country’s polio free status, health worker’s awareness on AFP surveillance and active case search should be strengthened in least performing counties to improve case detection. Similar analyses should be done at the sub-county level to uncover underperformance that might have been hidden by county level analysis.
Background: Globally, tremendous improvement has been made in Polio eradication since its inception in 1988. For the third time in a decade, Kenya has experienced a Polio outbreak along the border with Somalia. The affected areas were in Garissa County, replete with previous occurrences in 2006 and 2012. This article, give an account of series of events and activities that were used to stop the transmission within 13 weeks, an interval between the first and the last case of the 2013 outbreak. Methods: In an attempt to stop further transmission and time bound closure of the outbreak, many activities were brought to fore: the known traditional methods, innovative approaches, improved finances and surge capacity. These assisted in case detection, implementation, and coordination of activities. The external outbreak assessments and the six-monthly technical advisory group recommendations were also employed. Result: There were increased case detections of >=2/100,000, stool adequacy >=80%, due to enhanced surveillance, timely feedbacks from laboratory investigation and diagnosis. Sustained coverage in supplemental immunisation of > 90%, ensured that immune profile of >=3 polio vaccine doses was quickly attained to protect the targeted population, prevent further polio infection and eventual reduction of cases coming up with paralysis. Conclusion: Overall, the outbreak was stopped within the 120 days of the first case using 14 rounds of supplemental immunisation activities.
Background Kenya detected the first case of COVID-19 on March 13, 2020, and as of July 30, 2020, 17 975 cases with 285 deaths (case fatality rate (CFR) = 1.6%) had been reported. This study described the cases during the early phase of the pandemic to provide information for monitoring and response planning in the local context. Methods We reviewed COVID-19 case records from isolation centres while considering national representation and the WHO sampling guideline for clinical characterization of the COVID-19 pandemic within a country. Socio-demographic, clinical, and exposure data were summarized using median and mean for continuous variables and proportions for categorical variables. We assigned exposure variables to socio-demographics, exposure, and contact data, while the clinical spectrum was assigned outcome variables and their associations were assessed. Results A total of 2796 case records were reviewed including 2049 (73.3%) male, 852 (30.5%) aged 30-39 years, 2730 (97.6%) Kenyans, 636 (22.7%) transporters, and 743 (26.6%) residents of Nairobi City County. Up to 609 (21.8%) cases had underlying medical conditions, including hypertension (n = 285 (46.8%)), diabetes (n = 211 (34.6%)), and multiple conditions (n = 129 (21.2%)). Out of 1893 (67.7%) cases with likely sources of exposure, 601 (31.8%) were due to international travel. There were 2340 contacts listed for 577 (20.6%) cases, with 632 contacts (27.0%) being traced. The odds of developing COVID-19 symptoms were higher among case who were aged above 60 years (odds ratio (OR) = 1.99, P = 0.007) or had underlying conditions (OR = 2.73, P < 0.001) and lower among transport sector employees (OR = 0.31, P < 0.001). The odds of developing severe COVID-19 disease were higher among cases who had underlying medical conditions (OR = 1.56, P < 0.001) and lower among cases exposed through community gatherings (OR = 0.27, P < 0.001). The odds of survival of cases from COVID-19 disease were higher among transport sector employees (OR = 3.35, P = 0.004); but lower among cases who were aged ≥60 years (OR = 0.58, P = 0.034) and those with underlying conditions (OR = 0.58, P = 0.025). Conclusion The early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated a need to target the elderly and comorbid cases with prevention and control strategies while closely monitoring asymptomatic cases.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.