Research shows that domestic pigs are a potential reservoir for Ndumu virus – Highlighting our Publications

An abstract from the ‘Viral metagenomics demonstrates that domestic pigs are a potential reservoir for Ndumu virus‘ report published in the Virology Journal. Background The rising demand for pork has resulted in a massive expansion of pig production in Uganda. This has resulted in increased contact between humans and pigs. Pigs can act as reservoirs … Continue reading →

Experts discuss strategies for infectious disease pathogen discovery

Scientists conducting research in the area of pathogen discovery, especially virus discovery met for a 4 day workshop on 5-8 Nov 2012. Held at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Nairobi, the aim of the workshop was to enable ILRI to make informed decisions about which technologies to be investing in to support the pathogen … Continue reading →

Republic of Kenya Zoonotic Disease Unit (ZDU) launched

The Kenyan ministries of livestock and development and public health and sanitation yesterday, 3 October 2012 officially launched the Zoonotic Disease Unit (ZDU) in Nairobi. ‘The ZDU is a One Health office in Kenya that was formed to address the gap that exists between animal and human health sectors in terms of prevention and control … Continue reading →

Annie Cook wins the best student poster prize at the veterinary epidemiology and economics conference

The 13th conference of the International Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics (ISVEE) held in Maastricht, the Netherlands on 20-24 August 2012 saw many International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) scientists participating in various capacities. Annie Cook a PhD student with the People, Animals and their Zoonoses (PAZ) project won the prize for the best student poster. … Continue reading →

A Day in the Life of the PAZ Project: Fascioliasis in Western Kenya

‘A Day in the Life of the People, Animals and their Zoonoses (PAZ) Project’, is series of blog articles by several members of ILRI staff working on the PAZ project based in Busia. These staff members, share their first hand experiences, challenges, and highlights of the project, in this post George Omondi Acharry, a laboratory … Continue reading →

A Day in the Life of the PAZ Project: Tapeworm [taeniasis] infestation in Busia

‘A Day in the Life of the People, Animals and their Zoonoses (PAZ) Project’, is series of blog articles by several members of ILRI staff working on the PAZ project based in Busia. These staff members, share their first hand experiences, challenges, and highlights of the project, in this post Lorren Alumasa, a clinical technician … Continue reading →

A Day in the Life of the PAZ Project: Laboratory diagnostic of diseases hosted by animals in the PAZ project area

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), jointly with the University of Edinburgh (UK) and the Kenya Medical Research Institute, with additional support from the Kenyan Department of Veterinary Services, operates a laboratory in the town of Busia, in Western Kenya.  It is here that the People, Animals and their Zoonoses (PAZ) project operates a joint … Continue reading →

A Day in the Life of the PAZ Project: Pig farming and slaughtering in Western Kenya

Busia County, in Western Kenya is the main research area for the People, Animals and their Zoonoses (PAZ) project. Farmers in this County and its environs are slowly adopting pig farming as an alternative way of earning their livelihoods. There is close interaction between pigs and people as they are either tethered within the homestead … Continue reading →

The (neglected) ties binding human and animal health

“Animal diseases make up 60 per cent of all human pathogens and have a significant impact on poverty. Yet for many years, the worst diseases were sorely neglected by the international community. Eric Fevre describes how this turned around, and what researchers are now doing to tackle it. ‘In the far west of rural Kenya, … Continue reading →

A Day in the Life of the PAZ Project: About the People, Animals and their Zoonoses Project

Western Kenya is a part of the world with high human and livestock population densities, representative more largely of the whole Lake Victoria Crescent ecosystem.  This is a rural area (around 95% of households depend on agriculture as their primary source of livelihoods) where farmers are mixed crop-livestock small-holders – families generally grow crops and … Continue reading →