Kenya launches human infection study to fight Shigella

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Each year, thousands of children in Kenya die from diarrhoeal diseases caused by Shigella.

Now, researchers are asking healthy adults to volunteer for a groundbreaking study that could help prevent these deaths.

Shigella is a leading cause of diarrhoeal disease, contributing to high child mortality in low- and middle-income countries.

Human Infection Studies (HIS) involve deliberately infecting healthy volunteers in controlled settings to study how the body responds to the disease and to test potential vaccines.

Speaking to AVDelta News, Project Manager for Human Infection Studies, Joyce Shikuku, said volunteers are carefully screened to ensure they are healthy before enrollment.

“We observe how participants respond to infection under 24-hour monitoring. They are followed for up to 18 months to make sure they fully recover,” she said.

She said convincing people to take part is not easy.

“The first question people ask is, ‘What if I die?’ We use simple language and experts to explain the study and address fears,” Shikuku said.

She added that early engagement with the community helps build trust and ensures the study is culturally acceptable.

Shikuku explained that the studies are conducted only for diseases with known treatments.

“For Shigella, once symptoms develop, we treat participants immediately and monitor them until they recover. In over 13 years, no participant has died or had severe complications,” she said.

Volunteers are admitted in small groups to allow close monitoring. Symptoms appear at different times depending on immunity, and some participants may not develop any symptoms at all. All responses are tracked carefully to ensure safety.

The study centres are prepared for emergencies, with resuscitation rooms and ambulances on standby.

“In the event of an emergency, we can provide first aid and transfer participants to a hospital if needed. But over the years, no one has needed these services,” Shikuku said.

The research targets volunteers aged 18 to 45 from Nairobi, Kilifi, and surrounding areas within a 70-kilometre radius of the research centres. Follow-ups continue for up to 18 months to ensure any health issues are addressed, whether related to the study or not.

Shikuku said the ultimate goal is to develop a vaccine that reduces the burden of Shigella and prevents child deaths. She added that the project also shows how community engagement and public participation can improve the design and acceptance of clinical research in LMICs.

“Our lessons from Kilifi and Nairobi can guide similar studies across Africa,” she said.