Ruth Omani – 2018 Sandpit Fellow – is exploring the epidemiology and transmission dynamics of Rift Valley Fever in the Horn of Africa. Field activities associated with this project have just been concluded. The research team, working closely with the Wajir County Government, visited 75 pastoralist households where 75 interviews were administered.
The current prevailing drought conditions have forced pastoralists to trek farther away from their homesteads in search of water and pasture for their animals, and as a result of this, most animals, especially camels and cattle, were not easily accessible. A total of 1029 animal samples (serum) have been collected from sheep, goats cattle and camels, and despite the number of samples falling below the targeted number of 1500 animals, this is considered a success.
What are the next steps?
- Transcription of the interviews
- Logistics associated with laboratory sample analysis
