Kenya: Unease As Dangerous Mosquito Vector Detected in the Country
Nairobi — Kenya Medical Research Inistitute (KEMRI) researchers have detected a new dangerous mosquito vector dubbed 'Anopheles Stephensi' that thrives in urban and rural areas.
The new mosquito vector was fast detected in Laisamis and Saku sub-counties of Marsabit County in Northern region of the country with KEMRI and the Ministry of Health focusing research activities in the region.
KEMRI Acting Director General Sam Kariuki has raised concern that the new mosquito vector might reverse the gains made in eradicating Malaria as it spreads very fast and adapts to different climatic regions.
"Our surveillance studies indicate that the new vector, unlike the traditional malaria-causing mosquitoes namely Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles funfests, is not only invasive and can spread very fast to new areas, but also adaptive to different climatic and environmental conditions," Kariuki said.
The danger has been attributed to the fact that the new mosquito vector has the ability to thrive in man-made containers, such as jerry cans, tyres, open tanks, sewers, cisterns, overhead tanks, and underground tanks and in polluted environments.
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