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28.3 %Among hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Kenya without underlying conditions, 28.3% died.

KenyaCOVID-19published 2025Global health actionPubMeddocument of 11 observations

74.2 %74.2% of sequenced SARS-CoV-2 cases in coastal Kenya (782 out of 1,053) yielded genome data identifying 68 PANGO lineages.

KenyaCOVID-19published 2025Longitudinal Epidemiology and Variant Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in Coastal Kenya (2020 - 2025europe_pmcdocument of 8 observations

14.5 %In Kilifi, seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG was 14.5% (95% CI 9.1–21.0%) at the beginning of the study period.

KenyaCOVID-19published 2022PLOS global public healtheurope_pmcdocument of 7 observationsDOI 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000883

7 %Of the 97,124 tests from asymptomatic individuals, 7,149 (7%) were SARS-CoV-2 positive by RT-PCR in the Coastal part of Kenya between 17th March 2020 and 30th June 2021.

KenyaCOVID-19observed 17th March 2020 to 30th June 2021published 2022Wellcome open researcheurope_pmcdocument of 10 observations

78 %In the first two years of the pandemic, 78% of high-income countries sequenced more than 0.5% of their COVID-19 cases.

KenyaCOVID-19observed first two years of the pandemicpublished 2022Nature communicationseurope_pmcdocument of 4 observations

Seychelles experienced two major surges of SARS-CoV-2 infections driven by the Omicron variant by September 2022.

KenyaCOVID-19observed September 2022published 2023SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of concern in the Seychelles: Introduction and spreadeurope_pmcdocument of 6 observations

91.5 %Among SARS-CoV-2 positive cases in coastal Kenya, common symptoms were cough (91.5%), nasal discharge (76.7%), and fever (53.1%).

KenyaCOVID-19published 2025Longitudinal Epidemiology and Variant Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in Coastal Kenya (2020 - 2025europe_pmcdocument of 8 observations

Time to symptom resolution was similar between COVID-19 patients with malaria co-infection (median 9 days [IQR 5–13]) and those without (median 10 days [IQR 6–13]), with adjusted hazard ratio 1.14 (95% CI 0.91–1.42; p=0.26).

KenyaCOVID-19 · paludismepublished 2026The Lancet. Global healthPubMeddocument of 8 observations

The FY.4 variant resulted in localized outbreaks in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific.

KenyaCOVID-19published 2025Virus evolutioneurope_pmcdocument of 4 observations

21 %Of 38 secondary cases with data, 8 reported symptoms, corresponding to a symptomatic proportion of 21%.

KenyaCOVID-19observed October 2020 to September 2022published 2023Symptom prevalence and Secondary Attack Rate of SARS-CoV-2 in Rural Kenyan Households: a peurope_pmcdocument of 3 observationsDOI 10.22541/au.168068165.55407669/v1

No participant experienced severe COVID-19 or death.

KenyaCOVID-19observed between May 1, 2020-February 1, 2022published 2023PloS onePubMeddocument of 8 observations

2.31 hazard_ratioMaternal SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a two-fold increased risk of infant infection (Hazard Ratio = 2.31).

KenyaCOVID-19observed between May 1, 2020-February 1, 2022published 2023PloS onePubMeddocument of 8 observations

30.5 %Among 2796 reviewed COVID-19 case records in Kenya, 852 (30.5%) were aged 30–39 years.

KenyaCOVID-19published 2022Journal of global healthPubMeddocument of 24 observations

43 %Comorbidities were reported in 340 (43%) of hospitalized SARS-CoV-2-infected patients, with cardiovascular disease in 130 (17%), diabetes in 116 (15%), and HIV in 53 (7%).

KenyaCOVID-19published 2022BMJ openPubMeddocument of 7 observations

76.7 %Among SARS-CoV-2 positive cases in coastal Kenya, nasal discharge was present in 76.7% of cases.

KenyaCOVID-19published 2025Longitudinal Epidemiology and Variant Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in Coastal Kenya (2020 - 2025europe_pmcdocument of 8 observations

15.2 %Pre-pandemic serology demonstrated antibodies recognizing SARS-CoV-2 Spike, RBD, or N in 15.2% of 994 participants.

KenyaCOVID-19observed pre-pandemicpublished 2026PloS onePubMeddocument of 4 observations

4 %The 7-day secondary attack rate of SARS-CoV-2 among household contacts of PCR-confirmed cases in rural Kenya was 4%.

KenyaCOVID-19observed October 2020 to September 2022published 2023Symptom prevalence and Secondary Attack Rate of SARS-CoV-2 in Rural Kenyan Households: a peurope_pmcdocument of 3 observationsDOI 10.22541/au.168068165.55407669/v1

79 %The genomes of SARS-CoV-2 from coastal Kenya were classified into 35 Pango lineages, six of which accounted for 79% of the sequenced infections: B.1 (49%), B.1.535 (11%), B.1.530 (6%), B.1.549 (4%), B.1.333 (4%) and B.1.1 (4%).

KenyaCOVID-19observed March 2020 - February 2021published 2021Transmission networks of SARS-CoV-2 in coastal Kenya during the first two waves: a retrospeurope_pmcdocument of 4 observationsDOI 10.1101/2021.07.01.21259583

21.6 %Pulmonary infections were a DKA precipitant in 21.6% of cases during the COVID-19 pandemic.

KenyaCOVID-19 · diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)observed during COVID-19 pandemicpublished 2024BMC endocrine disordersPubMeddocument of 16 observations

34.6 %Among 609 cases with underlying medical conditions in Kenya, 211 (34.6%) had diabetes.

KenyaCOVID-19published 2022Journal of global healthPubMeddocument of 24 observations

8.2 %SARS-CoV-2 positivity among acute respiratory infection cases in coastal Kenya ranged from 8.2% to 25.6% across nine infection waves.

KenyaCOVID-19published 2025Longitudinal Epidemiology and Variant Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in Coastal Kenya (2020 - 2025europe_pmcdocument of 8 observations

107 deathsAmong 787 hospitalized patients with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in Kenya, 107 (14%) died.

KenyaCOVID-19published 2022BMJ openPubMeddocument of 7 observations

92.4 %The majority (92.4%) of the RT-PCR positive individuals were asymptomatic in the Coastal part of Kenya between 17th March 2020 and 30th June 2021.

KenyaCOVID-19observed 17th March 2020 to 30th June 2021published 2022Wellcome open researcheurope_pmcdocument of 10 observations

50.2 %In Nairobi, seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG was 50.2% (95% CI 39.7–61.1%) at the end of the study period.

KenyaCOVID-19published 2022PLOS global public healtheurope_pmcdocument of 7 observationsDOI 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000883

25 yearsThe median age of SARS-CoV-2-positive acute respiratory infection cases in coastal Kenya was 25 years (IQR, 15–41).

KenyaCOVID-19published 2026Open forum infectious diseaseseurope_pmcdocument of 4 observations