Building laboratory capacity to detect and characterize pathogens of public and global health security concern in Kenya

• Authors: Elizabeth Hunsperger, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Bonventure Juma, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Clayton Onyango, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; John B. Ochieng, Kenya Medical Research Institute; Victor Omballa, Kenya Medical Research Institute; Barry Fields, Emory University; M. Kariuki Njenga, Washington State University; Jane Mwangi, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Godfrey Bigogo, Kenya Medical Research Institute; Richard Omore, Kenya Medical Research Institute; Nancy Otieno, Kenya Medical Research Institute; Sandra S. Chaves, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Peninah Munyua, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Daniel Macharia Njau, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Jennifer Verani, Emory University; Sara Lowther, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Robert F Breiman, Emory University; Joel M Montgomery, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Kevin M. De Cock, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Marc-Alain Widdowson, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Journal Title: BMC Public Health
• Volume: Volume 19
• Publisher: BMC (part of Springer Nature) | 2019-05-10
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6770-9
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Public Health
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; Diagnostics; TaqMan Array card (TAC); Laboratory capacity; Biosafety; Global health security; TAQMAN ARRAY CARD; VIRUS-INFECTION; RURAL KENYA; OUTBREAK; URBAN; INFLUENZA; ILLNESS; BURDEN; SEROPREVALENCE; EPIDEMIOLOGY

Abstract

Since 1979, multiple CDC Kenya programs have supported the development of diagnostic expertise and laboratory capacity in Kenya. In 2004, CDC's Global Disease Detection (GDD) program within the Division of Global Health Protection in Kenya (DGHP-Kenya) initiated close collaboration with Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and developed a laboratory partnership called the Diagnostic and Laboratory Systems Program (DLSP). DLSP built onto previous efforts by malaria, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) programs and supported the expansion of the diagnostic expertise and capacity in KEMRI and the Ministry of Health. First, DLSP developed laboratory capacity for surveillance of diarrheal, respiratory, zoonotic and febrile illnesses to understand the etiology burden of these common illnesses and support evidenced-based decisions on vaccine introductions and recommendations in Kenya. Second, we have evaluated and implemented new diagnostic technologies such as TaqMan Array Cards (TAC) to detect emerging or reemerging pathogens and have recently added a next generation sequencer (NGS). Third, DLSP provided rapid laboratory diagnostic support for outbreak investigation to Kenya and regional countries. Fourth, DLSP has been assisting the Kenya National Public Health laboratory-National Influenza Center and microbiology reference laboratory to obtain World Health Organization (WHO) certification and ISO15189 accreditation respectively. Fifth, we have supported biosafety and biosecurity curriculum development to help Kenyan laboratories safely and appropriately manage infectious pathogens. These achievements, highlight how in collaboration with existing CDC programs working on HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, the Global Health Security Agenda can have significantly improve public health in Kenya and the region. Moreover, Kenya provides an example as to how laboratory science can help countries detect and control of infectious disease outbreaks and other public health threats more rapidly, thus enhancing global health security.