US and Kenya launch new zoonotic disease surveillance tools

The United States and Kenya have launched new biosecurity guidelines and an upgraded digital surveillance system to improve the prevention, detection, and response to zoonotic diseases. Supported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the initiatives were unveiled in Nairobi to strengthen Kenya’s ability to identify animal disease threats before they spread to humans.

The two primary tools introduced are the Biosafety and Biosecurity Guidelines for Live Bird Markets and the upgraded Kenya Animal Biosurveillance System (KABS 2.0). The guidelines offer practical measures to reduce the spread of avian influenza and other infectious diseases across the poultry value chain, including farming, transportation, and market operations.

KABS 2.0 enables near-real-time collection and reporting of animal disease data across all 47 Kenyan counties. By integrating laboratory testing results, the system allows authorities to identify potential threats more quickly and improves digital disease reporting, data management, and the generation of animal health intelligence.