Nairobi, Kenya – Kenya’s Ministry of Health has inaugurated an expanded Polio Laboratory at the Centre for Virus Research (CVR) under the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), marking a major step in strengthening disease surveillance across East Africa and the Indian Ocean region.
The state-of-the-art facility is set to serve Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Comoros, providing critical capacity for polio diagnostics and surveillance. It will act as a regional hub in the fight against poliovirus and other infectious diseases that continue to threaten public health security.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, who presided over the launch, emphasized that the expanded laboratory will not only cater to Kenya’s national needs but also reinforce the region’s preparedness and response mechanisms.
“The new facility enhances our ability to conduct genomic sequencing locally, reducing reliance on external laboratories during outbreaks of diseases such as Mpox, measles, rubella, and enteric viruses,” Duale said. He added that the lab would accelerate timely detection, tracking, and containment of emerging health threats.
Kenya’s move aligns with global health priorities to eradicate polio and strengthen regional collaboration in disease surveillance. The lab’s expansion is expected to improve cross-border health security, especially in countries with fragile health systems, while positioning Kenya as a leader in laboratory-based outbreak response.
Health experts at KEMRI noted that the laboratory is equipped with advanced technology capable of delivering high-quality results within shorter turnaround times, ensuring rapid intervention during outbreaks.
The inauguration comes at a critical time as countries in the Horn of Africa and the wider region continue to battle recurrent outbreaks and the risk of polio re-emergence, compounded by population displacement, fragile health systems, and gaps in immunization coverage.