For the first time, East Africa is hosting the International Symposium on Streptococcus agalactiae Disease (ISSAD) 2026, a landmark global conference addressing Group B Streptococcus (GBS), one of the world’s leading causes of newborn sepsis, stillbirth, and maternal infections.
The three-day event, running February 23–25, convenes over 40 countries, bringing together scientists, public health officials, vaccine developers, and innovative young researchers to accelerate actionable solutions for the communities most affected.
GBS remains a critical global health threat, with roughly one in five pregnant women carrying the bacteria each year.
The disease accounts for approximately 400,000 cases of invasive infant illness, including sepsis and meningitis, and contributes to an estimated 91,000 infant deaths and 46,200 stillbirths annually.
Low- and middle-income countries bear the greatest burden due to limited access to prenatal screening, intrapartum antibiotics, and advanced neonatal care.
Chaired by Dr Hellen Barsosio, Clinical Research Scientist at the Kenya Medical Research Institute–Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (KEMRI-LSTM) Collaboration, ISSAD 2026 emphasizes African-led research and implementation science.
Dr Barsosio, co-lead of the Maternal Immunisation Readiness Network in Africa & Asia (MIRNA), highlighted the strategic importance of hosting the symposium in Nairobi, saying it presents a “transformative opportunity to center the voices and experiences of the communities most affected by GBS.”
The conference agenda blends scientific innovation with practical solutions, featuring updates on maternal vaccine candidates currently in clinical trials, infant and adult disease surveillance, and cutting-edge genomics research.
Parallel sessions examine GBS-associated stillbirths, prematurity, and maternal infections, drawing on insights from the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) network, while emphasizing context-specific interventions for resource-limited settings.
Nairobi’s selection as host city underscores Kenya’s emergence as a regional hub for health innovation, with world-class infrastructure, direct global connectivity, and strong institutional partnerships.
The event is supported by KEMRI and the Kenya Ministry of Health, reflecting national commitment to advancing maternal and newborn health outcomes.
ISSAD 2026 also serves as a platform for youth innovators and early-career researchers, showcasing scalable solutions such as mobile health tools for maternal screening, low-cost diagnostics, and AI-driven disease tracking.
By combining global expertise with local innovation, the symposium highlights Africa’s potential to lead solutions tailored to its highest-burden populations.
As ISSAD 2026 unfolds, the message is clear: ending preventable GBS disease will require collaboration, innovation, and youth-driven ingenuity.
For the first time in East Africa, researchers and policymakers are uniting to translate decades of scientific knowledge into policies, interventions, and technologies that can save lives, bringing the fight against GBS closer to the families who need it most.
