There is a risk Kenya loosing gains made in the fight against malaria after a new species of mosquito, which spreads the disease was discovered in the country.
The species – Anopheles Stephensi was discovered by researchers at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health’s Division of National Malaria Programme (DNMP).
The species was detected in Laisamis and Saku sub counties in Marsabit, and later confirmed at Kemri laboratory.
In a statement, KEMRI noted that the species, which spreads fast, was discovered during a routine mosquito surveillance.
“Kemri and the Ministry of Health has put in place efforts in research activities in Laimsamis and Saku Sub counties of Marsabit County where the anopheles stephansi vector samples were first detected and confirmed through laboratory essays at Kemri,” reads a section of a report by Kemri.
Kenya becomes the sixth country on the African continent to have invasion of the species.
Countries where invasion of the mosquito species has been reported include Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, and Nigeria.
Experts at the institution have warned that discovery of the species might cause a surge of cases and deaths.
According to Kenya Malaria indicator survey of 2020, prevalence of malaria in Kenya stands at 5.8 percent.
An estimated 3.5 million new clinical cases and 10,700 deaths are reported in the country every year.
“Unfortunately, the detection in Kenya, may translate to higher malaria transmission in urban and peri urban settings in the country, posing a serious threat that could reverse the gains made in the fight against malaria,” adds Kemri’s statement.
