TDR/IDRC Project B’s first MSc student graduates

September 5th, 2016

We are proud to announce that the project’s first MSc. Student, Dancan Athinya Kobia, graduated from the University of Nairobi on the 4th of September 2016. Mr Kobia graduated with a Master of Science Degree in Medical and Veterinary Entomology. The graduation took place during the 55th graduation ceremony at the Chancellor’s Court, University of Nairobi.

The title of Mr Kobia’s thesis is Diversity and Distribution of Immature Malaria and Rift Valley Fever Vectors along an Altitudinal Gradient in Baringo County, Kenya. Mr Dancan Kobia was supervised by Dr George Ongamo, who is also a researcher in TDR/IDRC Project B, and by Prof. Paul Ndegwa of the University of Nairobi.

While acknowledging that the impacts of climate change are known to cause shifts in distribution ranges of climate sensitive vectors, Kobia’s study sought to investigate the diversity and distribution of malaria and Rift Valley fever (RVF) mosquito vectors at immature stages along an altitudinal gradient in Baringo County, Kenya. Sampling of mosquito larvae was carried out every two weeks between June and September 2014 from 16 sampling points. The sampling period coincided with the rainy season. The study found that the distribution of Anopheles pharoensis showed some correlation with altitude, within Baringo County, with the highest species diversity being recorded in river banks where the water was clear and vegetation was present. The findings of his study underscored the need for continuous monitoring of vectors, not only in the lowland areas, but also in the highlands of Baringo County, to avoid sudden epidemics of malaria and RVF.

Dancan Kobia (MSc student, Entomology)