By SANDRA MULOMI
Kenya has become the first African country to join the Dengue Alliance, a global partnership seeking to develop safe, affordable and effective treatments for the mosquito-borne disease amid rising infections across the country.
The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) formally joined the international collaboration during an Alliance meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on October 27, 2026.
The partnership brings together research institutions in countries affected by dengue to accelerate the development of treatments for a disease whose burden in Africa is believed to be significantly underestimated because of underdiagnosis and underreporting.
KEMRI’s entry into the Alliance is expected to strengthen Africa’s participation in global dengue research and create opportunities for the continent’s patients to be included in future studies of potential treatments.
“Dengue is a growing public health concern in Africa, but its true burden remains underestimated due to underdiagnosis and underreporting,” said Dr Erick Muok, KEMRI’s Acting Director of Research and Development.
“Through the Dengue Alliance, KEMRI will contribute African expertise and evidence to strengthen global efforts to advance dengue research, surveillance, diagnostics, and clinical management,” he added.
Established in 2022, the Dengue Alliance includes the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) and research institutions from Brazil, Malaysia, India and Thailand.
DNDi welcomed Kenya’s entry, saying the country’s expertise would help ensure that research responds to the needs of populations affected by the disease.
“We are pleased to welcome KEMRI to the Dengue Alliance. Their expertise in clinical research, diagnostics, surveillance, and outbreak response will help ensure dengue research responds to the needs of affected populations in Africa,” said Dr André Siqueira, Head of the Global Dengue Programme at DNDi.
Siqueira said international cooperation was increasingly important as dengue spread beyond regions traditionally associated with the disease.
“Dengue is no longer a disease confined to traditionally endemic regions, and addressing it requires global cooperation,” he said.
“While we have seen important advancements in vaccines and vector control, there is still no specific treatment for dengue and more research is needed to close this critical gap.”
Dengue cases rise in Kenya
Kenya’s entry into the Alliance comes amid growing concern over the spread of dengue and the need to strengthen disease surveillance, diagnosis and treatment research.
According to figures attributed to the World Health Organization (WHO) in the statement, Kenya reported nearly 10,000 dengue cases between January and August 2026, compared with approximately 4,300 cases in 2025 and 1,400 in 2024.
The country has detected all four dengue virus serotypes since its first reported epidemic in 1982.
While the disease has traditionally been associated with Kenya’s coastal region, recent transmission has also been reported in northern and western parts of the country, including areas bordering Uganda, South Sudan and Ethiopia.
The expansion of dengue’s geographical footprint has raised concerns about the country’s capacity to detect infections promptly, monitor outbreaks and allocate resources effectively.
Dengue symptoms can include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, nausea and skin rash. Severe cases can lead to serious complications, making early diagnosis and appropriate clinical management important.
African research seeks to establish true disease burden
Studies led by DNDi in Senegal, Ghana and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have also found evidence that dengue transmission in Africa is more widespread than previously recognised.
The findings point to the challenges posed by inadequate testing and reporting, which can leave health authorities without a complete picture of the disease’s spread.
Detailed results from the studies are expected to be published in early 2027 and are intended to strengthen the evidence available to policymakers and public health authorities across the continent.
Researchers say better information on the prevalence and distribution of dengue is essential for improving outbreak preparedness, strengthening surveillance systems and guiding the allocation of resources for prevention and control.
Search for effective treatment continues
Beyond improving disease surveillance and diagnosis, the Dengue Alliance is supporting efforts to address the lack of a specific treatment for dengue.
DNDi and the Serum Institute of India are advancing a potential dengue treatment into a Phase III clinical trial, which is expected to begin in early 2027 in Brazil, Thailand and Malaysia.
The Alliance is also supporting research into other treatment approaches, including antiviral medicines and host-directed therapies, which seek to influence the body’s response to infection.
KEMRI is expected to contribute its expertise in arboviral diseases, clinical research, diagnostics, surveillance and climate-related health research to the partnership.
Its participation is intended to improve understanding of dengue transmission in Africa, strengthen diagnostic capacity and support the development of medicines that respond to the needs of affected communities.
The inclusion of Kenya also broadens the geographical reach of the Alliance, opening the way for greater African involvement in international clinical research and efforts to develop accessible treatments for dengue patients.
