Talare: Simon Muriu,Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya. Chairperson, Pan-African Mosquito Control Association (PAMCA) in Kenya
Värd: Olivia Wesula Lwande, UCMR, Institutionen för klinisk mikrobiologi
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Tropical environments provide ideal conditions for the development of disease vectors and transmission of associated vector-borne pathogens. In the sub-Saharan Africa, Kenya included, human and animal health is threatened by the emergence and re-emergence of vector-borne diseases in the recent past with devastating consequences to the regional economies and human-wellbeing. Several factors associated with the transmission ecology of these pathogens have greatly contributed to the increasing burden of these vector–borne diseases particularly the expansion behavior of human and animal populations, habitat degradation, changing land-use patterns, climate change, international travel and trade, urbanization, poverty and cultural practices. The challenges of managing emerging and re-emerging vector-borne infections in Kenya is further exacerbated by her geographical location, growing human population, porous borders and close livestock-wildlife-human interactions. Occurrence of invasive vector species in the country combined with adaptive behavioral patterns of the local vector populations threatens to circumvent efforts being employed against the emergence and re-emergence of vector-borne infections.
However, opportunities exist in deployment of One Health approach with primary focus on establishing active collaborations at the animal-human-ecosystem interface, for better prevention and control of emerging and re-emerging vector-borne diseases. The multi-sectoral and transdisciplinary collaborative efforts are instrumental in research infrastructural development and capacity building among local populations in various fields. Furthermore, such undertakings have resulted in development of novel strategies and technologies interspersed with indigenous knowledge inputs necessary for successful implementation of mitigating efforts against emerging and re-emerging vector-borne diseases.