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Background: Zoonoses are naturally transmissible between humans and animals. Globally, they account for more than 60% of human infections, 75% of emerging infections, 2.7 million human deaths, and 10% of the total DALYs lost yearly in Africa. In the last three decades, Kenya has had sporadic outbreaks of zoonoses. To increase the speed of reporting and efficiencies in detection and control, a multi-sectoral collaboration in zoonotic disease surveillance (MZDS) between human and animal health workers is essential. In an effort, Zoonotic disease unit (ZDU) in Kenya has been established at national and county levels., Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out to determine the level of utilization of multisectoral collaboration and its associated determinants in zoonotic disease surveillance among animal and human healthcare workers in Nakuru County. Quantitative data was gathered from 102 participants and qualitative data from 5 key informants. To test for significant differences, Chi-square and independent t-test were used., Results: MZDS utilization level was 16% and the factors associated with MZDS utilization include; knowing what MZDS entails, education level, sector affiliation, trainings, supportive infrastructure, budget allocation and data storage. Lack of financing and poor coordination are hindrances to MZDS., Conclusion: There is need to finance MZDS activities, strengthen coordination mechanisms, carry out more sensitization and trainings among animal and human healthcare workers., Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed., (Copyright: © 2024 Cheptoyek L et al.)

Introduction: In October 2017, a blood sample from a resident of Kween District, Eastern Uganda, tested positive for Marburg virus. Within 24 hour of confirmation, a rapid outbreak response was initiated. Here, we present results of epidemiological and laboratory investigations., Methods: A district task force was activated consisting of specialised teams to conduct case finding, case management and isolation, contact listing and follow up, sample collection and testing, and community engagement. An ecological investigation was also carried out to identify the potential source of infection. Virus isolation and Next Generation sequencing were performed to identify the strain of Marburg virus., Results: Seventy individuals (34 MVD suspected cases and 36 close contacts of confirmed cases) were epidemiologically investigated, with blood samples tested for MVD. Only four cases met the MVD case definition; one was categorized as a probable case while the other three were confirmed cases. A total of 299 contacts were identified; during follow- up, two were confirmed as MVD. Of the four confirmed and probable MVD cases, three died, yielding a case fatality rate of 75%. All four cases belonged to a single family and 50% (2/4) of the MVD cases were female. All confirmed cases had clinical symptoms of fever, vomiting, abdominal pain and bleeding from body orifices. Viral sequences indicated that the Marburg virus strain responsible for this outbreak was closely related to virus strains previously shown to be circulating in Uganda., Conclusion: This outbreak of MVD occurred as a family cluster with no additional transmission outside of the four related cases. Rapid case detection, prompt laboratory testing at the Uganda National VHF Reference Laboratory and presence of pre-trained, well-prepared national and district rapid response teams facilitated the containment and control of this outbreak within one month, preventing nationwide and global transmission of the disease., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.