Global Health Leaders Gather in Nairobi for Historic ISSAD Conference on Group B Streptococcus

By Bruno Aero Family Media Health  correspondance

Dr Hellen Barsosio Head of Maternal & Newborn Health Interventions KEMRI.

Nairobi, Kenya | February 23-25, 2026 - The 2026 International Symposium on Streptococcus agalactiae Disease (ISSAD) opens today in Nairobi, Kenya, marking a historic milestone as the first time this premier global conference has been hosted in East Africa.  

From February 23-25, world-renowned scientists, public health officials, and vaccine developers will convene in Kenya's capital to accelerate progress toward preventing Group B Streptococcus (GBS), a leading cause of neonatal sepsis, postpartum infections, and infant mortality worldwide. 

Group B Streptococcus remains a major global health threat, with an estimated 18-20 million or 1 in 5 pregnant women globally carrying GBS each year. GBS is responsible for approximately 400,000 cases of invasive disease annually in infants, including sepsis and meningitis, and is linked to an estimated 91,000 infant deaths and 46,200 stillbirths worldwide. The burden falls disproportionately in low- and middle-income countries, where access to screening, preventive antibiotics during childbirth, and advanced neonatal care remains uneven. 

Chaired by Dr Hellen Barsosio, Clinical Research Scientist, Kenya Medical Research Institute and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (KEMRI-LSTM) Collaboration, ISSAD 2026 brings unprecedented focus to African-led research and implementation science.  

Dr Barsosio, who co-leads the Maternal Immunisation Readiness Network in Africa & Asia (MIRNA), is a recognised authority on maternal immunisation policy and brings critical regional expertise to this year's theme: From Evidence to Action - Accelerating GBS Prevention in a Changing World. 

Hosting ISSAD 2026 in Nairobi presents a transformative opportunity to center the voices and experiences of the communities most affected by GBS disease," said Dr Barsosio. "There will be several researchers from low- and middle-income countries speaking at the conference, which is critical because this is where the GBS burden is heaviest." 

GBS is responsible for severe infections in newborns, including sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis, and is increasingly affecting adults, particularly pregnant women, elderly populations, and individuals with low immunity. Despite decades of research, no licensed vaccine exists, and current prevention strategies, primarily antibiotics given during labour to prevent infection, have limited reach in resource-constrained settings. 

Nairobi's selection as host city reflects Kenya's emergence as a regional health innovation hub, with world-class infrastructure, direct global connectivity, and strong institutional partnerships. The conference has secured backing from KEMRI and the Kenya Ministry of Health, underscoring national commitment to advancing maternal and newborn health outcomes. 

Day one of the conference features a comprehensive scientific agenda addressing critical knowledge gaps and implementation challenges. The opening panel will examine the latest developments in vaccine candidates currently in clinical trials, including maternal immunisation approaches that could protect both mothers and their newborns. 

A plenary session on disease burden and surveillance will present updated global and regional estimates, highlighting data gaps that continue to 

challenge accurate burden assessment, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Parallel sessions will explore infant disease burden, adult GBS infections in low- and middle-income countries, and cutting-edge genomics research that reshape understanding of GBS transmission. 

Recognising the complexities of GBS disease measurement, health experts will further tackle surveillance challenges by exploring focused examinations of GBS-associated stillbirths, drawing on recent data from the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) network, as well as GBS-associated prematurity and maternal disease. 

The symposium's location in East Africa, home to some of the world's highest GBS burden populations, creates unique opportunities for engagement with frontline healthcare providers, policymakers, and affected communities.  

Previous ISSAD conferences, held biennially in locations including Brazil (South America), Europe, and South Africa, have catalysed significant advances in GBS research and policy. The 2026 edition aims to accelerate the transition from evidence generation to policy implementation, particularly in high-burden, resource-limited settings. 

With representation from over 40 countries, ISSAD 2026 brings together a multidisciplinary community committed to ending preventable GBS disease. The conference will run through February 25, featuring additional sessions on vaccine implementation readiness, diagnostic innovation, and antimicrobial resistance.