Publications by authors named "Harry Oyas"
Article Synopsis
- Researchers conducted surveillance for avian influenza viruses in domestic and wild birds near Lake Victoria, Kenya, due to nearby outbreaks in other countries.
- They tested over 14,000 specimens and found that 3.9% of poultry samples and 0.2% of wild bird fecal samples were positive for the virus, with most poultry infections being H9N2.
- Despite not detecting highly pathogenic H5N8, the study emphasizes the risk of HPAI virus introduction and establishment in the region, particularly through live bird markets.
Article Synopsis
- The text discusses the need for improving subnational veterinary services in Kenya by enhancing workforce capacity, focusing on a shift in mindset, and developing new skills to address both animal health and broader public health challenges through the One Health approach.
- It highlights key problems such as insufficient on-the-job training, unequal distribution of skilled workers, impacts of climate change on health, and lack of preparedness planning, which are common issues that may affect other regions as well.
- The In-Service Applied Veterinary Epidemiology Training (ISAVET) program is introduced as a four-month training initiative designed to build the capabilities of frontline animal health professionals and has positively transformed trainees' attitudes and outcomes.
Using data collected from previous (n = 86) and prospective (n = 132) anthrax outbreaks, we enhanced prior ecological niche models (ENM) and added kernel density estimation (KDE) approaches to identify anthrax hotspots in Kenya. Local indicators of spatial autocorrelation (LISA) identified clusters of administrative wards with a relatively high or low anthrax reporting rate to determine areas of greatest outbreak intensity. Subsequently, we modeled the impact of vaccinating livestock in the identified hotspots as a national control measure.
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- A study of over 3 million camels in Kenya found that many have antibodies against MERS-CoV, although human infections in Africa are quite rare.
- Researchers followed 243 camels from 33 homesteads for two years, testing nasal swabs for the virus and documenting illnesses, primarily respiratory issues among the camels.
- Out of the camels tested, a small percentage showed positive results for MERS-CoV, and there was evidence of sporadic transmission to humans, particularly during outbreaks.
Article Synopsis
- A longitudinal study in Isiolo County, Kenya, investigated Brucella infection in camels, cattle, sheep, and goats by initially screening 726 animals and identifying 30 camels, 31 cattle, 22 sheep, and 32 goats for follow-up.
- Over 12 months, these animals were tested for anti-Brucella antibodies, with seroconversion confirmed through iELISA and follow-up testing performed using real-time PCR for species identification.
- The overall incidence rate of Brucella infection was 0.024 cases per animal-months, with camels having the highest rate at 0.053, while B. abortus was found to be more prevalent than B. melitensis in the
Background: To improve early detection of emerging infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), many of them zoonotic, numerous electronic animal disease-reporting systems have been piloted but not implemented because of cost, lack of user friendliness, and data insecurity. In Kenya, we developed and rolled out an open-source mobile phone-based domestic and wild animal disease reporting system and collected data over two years to investigate its robustness and ability to track disease trends.
Methods: The Kenya Animal Biosurveillance System (KABS) application was built on the Java® platform, freely downloadable for android compatible mobile phones, and supported by web-based account management, form editing and data monitoring.
Coronaviruses are pathogens of pandemic potential. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) causes a zoonotic respiratory disease of global public health concern, and dromedary camels are the only proven source of zoonotic infection. More than 70% of MERS-CoV-infected dromedaries are found in East, North, and West Africa, but zoonotic MERS disease is only reported from the Arabian Peninsula.
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- Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a viral disease affecting goats and sheep, significantly impacting livelihoods and livestock trade in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia; wild artiodactyls are also susceptible to the PPR virus (PPRV), posing risks to endangered species.
- A study conducted in Kenya and Tanzania from 2015-2016 found 19.7% of sampled wild artiodactyls were seropositive for PPRV, with African buffalo and Grant's gazelle populations showing seroprevalence rates of 12.0% and 1.1%, respectively, in 2018-2019.
- Findings indicate that PPRV infection
Modeling the Potential Future Distribution of Anthrax Outbreaks under Multiple Climate Change Scenarios for Kenya.
Int J Environ Res Public Health
April 2021
Article Synopsis
- Climate change is expected to increase the prevalence and geographical spread of infectious diseases like anthrax, particularly in regions like Kenya where knowledge about these impacts is limited.
- The study used ecological niche modeling with historical anthrax occurrence data to predict future distributions of the disease under different climate scenarios for the year 2055.
- Findings show a predicted expansion of anthrax risk areas from 36,131 km² currently to approximately 40,012 km² and 39,835 km² under climate change scenarios RCP 4.5 and 8.5, respectively, with a notable northward shift in distribution.
Article Synopsis
- - Anthrax in Kenya poses significant health and economic challenges, often occurring in outbreaks involving animals and humans, with limited understanding of geographic distribution factors affecting these outbreaks.
- - A boosted regression trees (BRT) analysis was conducted on anthrax surveillance data from 2011 to 2017, revealing key environmental factors such as cattle density and rainfall that influence anthrax suitability across the region.
- - The study identified high-suitability areas for anthrax mainly in southwestern Kenya and central highlands, providing valuable information for policymakers to enhance surveillance and control strategies in agriculture and wildlife sectors.
Article Synopsis
- This study focuses on using historical data from livestock anthrax events in Kenya (1957-2017) to create disease risk maps, aiding in effective disease management in resource-limited countries.
- By analyzing 666 reported anthrax cases, researchers identified patterns of disease occurrence over time and space, emphasizing areas with higher risks.
- The findings indicate that anthrax events are spatially clustered, with specific agro-ecological zones being more affected, particularly high-risk areas for cattle, and a noticeable seasonality in case occurrences.
Article Synopsis
- The recent Zika outbreak and Ebola epidemic have underscored the need for improved preparedness in detecting and responding to public health threats, particularly those from animal origins.
- One-Health approaches, which facilitate collaboration between human, animal, and environmental health sectors, are seen as essential for preventing and managing disease outbreaks.
- This text discusses three significant initiatives in Kenya that are advancing the implementation of the One Health strategy.
Epidemiologic data indicate a global distribution of anthrax outbreaks associated with certain ecosystems that promote survival and viability of spores. Here, we characterized three anthrax outbreaks involving humans, livestock, and wildlife that occurred in the same locality in Kenya between 2014 and 2017. Clinical and epidemiologic data on the outbreaks were collected using active case finding and review of human, livestock, and wildlife health records.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In mid-2015, the United States' Pandemic Prediction and Forecasting Science and Technical Working Group of the National Science and Technology Council, Food and Agriculture Organization Emergency Prevention Systems, and Kenya Meteorological Department issued an alert predicting a high possibility of El-Niño rainfall and Rift Valley Fever (RVF) epidemic in Eastern Africa.
Methodology/principal Findings: In response to the alert, the Kenya Directorate of Veterinary Services (KDVS) carried out an enhanced syndromic surveillance system between November 2015 and February 2016, targeting 22 RVF high-risk counties in the country as identified previously through risk mapping. The surveillance collected data on RVF-associated syndromes in cattle, sheep, goats, and camels from >1100 farmers through 66 surveillance officers.