Overview
The United States is providing $14.5 million (1.9 billion KSh) to support Kenya’s preparedness for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and enhance the country’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to potential outbreaks.
Working in partnership with the Government of Kenya, county governments, and public health partners, U.S. assistance is helping strengthen disease surveillance, laboratory systems, healthcare worker training, emergency response coordination, risk communication and community engagement, and points of entry screening to safeguard public health. As a major transportation, trade, and travel hub linking East and Central Africa, Kenya plays an important role in regional infectious disease preparedness and control. Strengthening preparedness will protect the health and economic well-being of Kenyans, reduce the risk of cross-border spread, and advance the shared regional and global health security mandate.
Building on a Longstanding U.S.-Kenya Partnership
For more than six decades, the United States and Kenya have partnered to advance shared priorities across health, economic development, and security. Support for EVD preparedness builds on this longstanding collaboration, reinforcing Kenya’s efforts to strengthen and build resilient public health systems and protect its people.
U.S. Support by Numbers* The figures below reflect current numbers and are expected to continue increasing as additional activities are conducted
- $14.5 million in planned U.S. support for Ebola preparedness
- 22 high-risk counties identified by Government of Kenya and targeted for preparedness activities support
- More than 800 laboratory professionals trained in biosafety, biosecurity, and testing procedures for viral hemorrhagic fevers like Ebola
- Two USG-supported KEMRI laboratories, working with the National Virology Reference Laboratory, are testing suspected EVD samples
- Two mobile laboratories deployed to expand rapid diagnostic capacity in high-risk areas, reducing turnaround time for Ebola test results
- More than 1,700 Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (FELTP) disease detectives trained to support outbreak response
- 120 national responders trained through a National Rapid Response Team Training of Trainers Program
- More than 160 county-level responders trained in high-risk border counties
- 27 county and national Emergency Operating Centers (EOCs) activated
- 12 additional high-risk counties identified for EOC establishment and operationalization.
U.S. Support in Action
Detect: Supporting disease surveillance to serve as early warning systems, enabling health authorities to rapidly detect potential disease threats, outbreak investigation, laboratory testing, and contact tracing.
Prepare: Supporting healthcare worker training, infection prevention and control, procuring of testing laboratory supplies, facility preparedness, risk communication and community engagement, EOCs activation, and public health screening at points of entry and in high-risk areas.
Respond: Conducting testing of all suspected cases, supporting Ebola Treatment Units and Isolation Centers as needed as well as rapid response teams, enhancing risk communication and community engagement, and other efforts that enable a coordinated response during public health emergencies.
Why It Matters
In today’s interconnected world, an infectious disease threat anywhere can quickly become a global threat. Investing in preparedness helps stop outbreaks early, before they spread, safeguarding lives, economic security, and regional stability.
Together, the United States and Kenya are strengthening the systems needed to prevent, detect, and respond to today’s Ebola threat while building a more resilient public health system for future health emergencies.
