Genomic and clinical epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in coastal Kenya: insights into variant circulation, reinfection, and multiple lineage importations during a post-pandemic wave
Our study highlights that coastal Kenya, like most other localities, continues to face new SARS-CoV-2 infection waves characterized by circulation of new variants, multiple lineage importations, and reinfections. Locally, the virus may circulate unrecognized, as most infections are asymptomatic in part due to high population immunity after several waves of infection. Our findings highlight the need for sustained SARS-CoV-2 surveillance to inform appropriate public health responses, such as scheduled vaccination for populations at risk of severe infection.
Authors
- Charles Sande (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8364-6063)
- Philip Bejon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2135-7549)
- My V. T. Phan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6905-8513)
- Charles N. Agoti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2160-567X)
- Nickson Murunga (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5304-2210)
- George Githinji (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9640-7371)
- Emily Nyale
- Lynette Isabella Ochola‐Oyier (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4393-0470)
- Arnold W. Lambisia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5312-0960)
- Matthew Cotten (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3361-3351)
- Simon Dellicour (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9558-1052)
- Mike J. Mwanga (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1481-1405)
- Edidah Moraa
- Joyce U. Nyiro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7215-6539)
- Katherine E. Gallagher (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5604-7647)
- John Mwita Morobe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2398-6717)
- James Nyagwange (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5430-6011)
- Edward Charles Holmes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9596-3552)
- Esther Nyadzua Katama (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3399-3037)
- Martin N. Mutunga
- Joan Omungala
Institutions
- University of London (GB)
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (BE)
- Rega Institute for Medical Research (BE)
- Pwani University (KE)
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KE)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (GB)
- Arizona State University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- BMC Global and Public Health
- Published
- 2025-09-09
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s44263-025-00201-6
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 4.19