Government Rolls Out Digital System to Track Disease Outbreaks

In a bid to strengthen Kenya’s response to epidemics, the Ministry of Health has launched an advanced mobile disease surveillance system that enables real-time data collection, outbreak alerts, and field reporting. Health workers in the field can now use smartphones to log suspected cases, which are immediately transmitted to central databases, triggering automatic alerts to response teams. The move is expected to significantly speed up detection and management of outbreaks across the country.
The system is part of a broader digital transformation agenda under the Ministry’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) strategy, aiming to tighten integration of data across surveillance platforms. It relies on a suite of tools developed in collaboration with ICAP and the CDC, including the All‑Disease Outbreak Module (ADaM), which provides digital case investigations, contact tracing, and geospatial mapping. The central repository for this data is powered by SHIELD, a data warehouse that consolidates surveillance inputs and generates real‑time alerts for high-risk zones.
Public health experts say that the digital surveillance push could be a game-changer for Kenya’s preparedness, especially during emergencies. By enabling fast, coordinated responses, the system bolsters emergency readiness under the oversight of the Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI). The Ministry also received donated IT equipment from international partners to support this rollout and improve data flow across cross-border and high-risk areas. Looking ahead, officials say the integration of digital surveillance with existing health infrastructure will enhance resilience, reduce outbreak response times, and help the country contain public health threats more effectively.