Course Content
Module 1: Introduction to Health Challenges in Kenya
• Overview of Kenya’s healthcare landscape • Understanding the double burden of disease: Communicable vs. Non-communicable diseases • Key factors influencing health trends in Kenya
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Overview of Kenya’s Healthcare Landscape
Understanding the Double Burden of Disease in Kenya
Key Factors Influencing Health Trends in Kenya
Module 2: Communicable Diseases in Kenya
• HIV/AIDS: Prevalence, prevention, and treatment • Malaria: Causes, symptoms, and control strategies • Respiratory illnesses (e.g., Tuberculosis & Pneumonia) • Emerging infectious diseases and outbreak responses
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HIV/AIDS: Prevalence, Prevention, and Treatment
Malaria: Causes, Symptoms, and Control Strategies
Respiratory Illnesses: Tuberculosis & Pneumonia
Emerging Infectious Diseases and Outbreak Responses
Module 3: The Rise of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)
• Cardiovascular diseases: Hypertension, heart disease, and stroke • Cancer in Kenya: Common types, causes, and treatment options • Diabetes: Risk factors, symptoms, and lifestyle management • Mental health disorders and their growing impact
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Cardiovascular Diseases: Hypertension, Heart Disease, and Stroke
Cancer in Kenya: Common Types, Causes, and Treatment Options
Diabetes: Risk Factors, Symptoms, and Lifestyle Management
Mental Health Disorders and Their Growing Impact
Module 4: Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies
• Lifestyle and environmental factors contributing to diseases • Role of diet, physical activity, and mental well-being • Vaccination and early screening programs • The impact of urbanization and climate change on health
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Lifestyle and Environmental Factors Contributing to Diseases
The Role of Diet, Physical Activity, and Mental Well-being in Health
Vaccination and Early Screening Programs
The Impact of Urbanization and Climate Change on Health
Module 5: Healthcare Systems and Government Interventions
• Kenya’s healthcare policies and strategies • Role of the Ministry of Health, NGOs, and international organizations • Community health programs and grassroots initiatives • Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and access to care
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Kenya’s Healthcare Policies and Strategies
Role of the Ministry of Health, NGOs, and International Organizations in Kenya’s Healthcare System
Community Health Programs and Grassroots Initiatives
Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Access to Care
Module 6: Managing and Coping with Health Conditions
• How patients and caregivers can navigate healthcare services • Self-care strategies and support networks • Importance of health education and awareness campaigns
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How Patients and Caregivers Can Navigate Healthcare Services
Self-Care Strategies and Support Networks
The Importance of Health Education and Awareness Campaigns
Module 7: Course Summary and Final Assessment
• Key takeaways from the course • Interactive quiz and knowledge test
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Key Takeaways from the Course
Interactive Quiz and Knowledge Test
Understanding Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases
About Lesson

1. Introduction

Infectious diseases remain a major public health challenge worldwide, and Kenya, like many other countries, faces a rising burden of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are those that have newly appeared in a population or existed but are rapidly increasing in incidence or geographic range. Some of these diseases have been historically rare or unknown, while others are well-known but evolving due to genetic mutations, environmental changes, or human activities.

Why Are Emerging Infectious Diseases a Concern?

  • Increased globalization and international travel have made the spread of diseases faster than ever.
  • Climate change and environmental destruction have led to the rise of zoonotic diseases (diseases transmitted from animals to humans).
  • Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has made some infections harder to treat.
  • Urbanization and population density create conditions for disease outbreaks.

Kenya has experienced multiple outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, including:

  • COVID-19
  • Ebola (imported cases from neighboring Uganda and DR Congo)
  • Cholera
  • Dengue Fever
  • Rift Valley Fever (RVF)
  • Chikungunya
  • Zika Virus

This lecture explores the causes, transmission, prevention, and outbreak response mechanisms of these emerging infectious diseases in Kenya.

2. Understanding Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs)

2.1 What Are Emerging Infectious Diseases?

EIDs are defined as diseases that:

  1. Have newly appeared in a population (e.g., COVID-19).
  2. Are rapidly increasing in incidence or geographic range (e.g., Dengue Fever).
  3. Are re-emerging after a period of decline (e.g., Cholera).

EIDs can be caused by:

  • Viruses (e.g., SARS-CoV-2, Ebola, Zika Virus)
  • Bacteria (e.g., Multi-drug-resistant Tuberculosis, Cholera)
  • Fungi (e.g., Candida auris – an emerging fungal pathogen)
  • Parasites (e.g., drug-resistant Malaria strains)

2.2 Major Drivers of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Kenya

Several factors contribute to the emergence of infectious diseases, including:

1. Climate Change and Environmental Factors

  • Rising temperatures and extreme weather patterns create new habitats for disease-carrying vectors like mosquitoes.
  • Flooding and droughts lead to the contamination of water sources, increasing the risk of Cholera and other waterborne diseases.

2. Population Growth and Urbanization

  • Rapid urbanization increases human-animal interactions, leading to new zoonotic disease transmission.
  • Overcrowding in informal settlements accelerates the spread of airborne and waterborne diseases.

3. Globalization and International Travel

  • Frequent air travel allows pathogens to spread quickly across continents.
  • Importation of infectious diseases like Ebola from neighboring countries poses a national health security risk.

4. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

  • Overuse and misuse of antibiotics in both humans and livestock have led to drug-resistant strains of infections like multi-drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and drug-resistant malaria.

5. Zoonotic Spillover

  • More than 60% of emerging diseases originate in animals and spill over to humans (e.g., Ebola, SARS, MERS, COVID-19).
  • Deforestation and habitat destruction increase contact between humans and wildlife, raising the risk of zoonotic transmission.

3. Notable Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases in Kenya

3.1 COVID-19

  • Causative Agent: SARS-CoV-2 (Coronavirus)
  • Transmission: Airborne droplets, contaminated surfaces
  • Symptoms: Fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, loss of taste/smell
  • Prevention: Vaccination, hand hygiene, mask-wearing, social distancing
  • Kenya’s Response: Nationwide vaccination campaigns, lockdowns, and public awareness programs

3.2 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)

  • Causative Agent: Ebola virus (Zaire ebolavirus strain)
  • Transmission: Direct contact with bodily fluids of infected persons or animals
  • Symptoms: High fever, vomiting, severe bleeding, multi-organ failure
  • Prevention: Vaccination, strict isolation of suspected cases, safe burial practices
  • Kenya’s Response: Border screenings, rapid response teams, and public health preparedness

3.3 Cholera

  • Causative Agent: Vibrio cholerae bacteria
  • Transmission: Contaminated food and water
  • Symptoms: Severe watery diarrhea, dehydration, and death if untreated
  • Prevention: Safe drinking water, sanitation, oral cholera vaccines
  • Kenya’s Response: Emergency cholera treatment centers, water sanitation programs

3.4 Rift Valley Fever (RVF)

  • Causative Agent: Rift Valley Fever virus (Bunyaviridae family)
  • Transmission: Mosquito bites, direct contact with infected livestock
  • Symptoms: Fever, muscle pain, hemorrhagic fever in severe cases
  • Prevention: Vector control, livestock vaccination
  • Kenya’s Response: Animal vaccination campaigns, disease surveillance

3.5 Dengue Fever & Chikungunya

  • Causative Agent: Dengue virus & Chikungunya virus (spread by Aedes mosquitoes)
  • Transmission: Mosquito bites
  • Symptoms: High fever, joint pain, rash
  • Prevention: Mosquito control measures, personal protective measures
  • Kenya’s Response: Public health education, insecticide spraying, disease surveillance

4. Outbreak Responses in Kenya

4.1 Key Outbreak Response Strategies

Kenya has developed robust response mechanisms to emerging infectious disease outbreaks, including:

1. Rapid Disease Surveillance & Reporting

  • Kenya’s Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system enables early detection of outbreaks.

2. Public Health Emergency Preparedness

  • Establishing quarantine and isolation centers (e.g., COVID-19 response).
  • Emergency vaccination campaigns for outbreaks like Cholera and Ebola.

3. Research & Laboratory Capacity Building

  • Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) plays a vital role in studying infectious diseases and developing rapid diagnostic tests.

4. Community Engagement & Public Awareness

  • Educating the public on prevention measures and dispelling misinformation.
  • Involving community health volunteers (CHVs) in disease surveillance.

5. International Collaboration

  • Kenya works with WHO, CDC, and Africa CDC in cross-border outbreak control efforts.

5. Challenges in Managing Emerging Infectious Diseases

  • Limited healthcare infrastructure in rural areas.
  • Delays in response due to inadequate funding.
  • Vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.
  • Climate change effects increasing mosquito-borne diseases.

End of Lecture Quiz

  1. Which of the following diseases is primarily spread by mosquitoes?
    A) Ebola
    B) Cholera
    C) Dengue Fever ✅
    D) Tuberculosis

  2. What is the most effective way to prevent Cholera outbreaks?
    A) Social distancing
    B) Vaccination and clean water ✅
    C) Wearing masks
    D) Avoiding crowded places

Further Reading & Resources

Key Takeaways

  • Emerging infectious diseases in Kenya include COVID-19, Ebola, Cholera, and Rift Valley Fever.
  • Urbanization, climate change, and globalization accelerate disease spread.
  • Rapid response, surveillance, and vaccinations are crucial in outbreak management.
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