1
|
Macharia Z, Ogoti B, Otieno M, Gitonga P, Bosco-Lauth A, Maritim M, Lemarkoko E, Keya A, Sankok J, Gitao G, Onono J, Oyugi J, Bowen RA. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among underserved pastoralist communities in Kajiado County, Kenya: 2020-2022. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0308318. [PMID: 39116080 PMCID: PMC11309416 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0308318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Initial transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) was highest in densely populated regions of Kenya. Transmission gradually trickled down to the less densely populated, remote and underserved regions such as the pastoral regions of Kajiado County which are characterized by poor healthcare systems. Molecular assays that were pivotal for COVID-19 diagnosis were not available in these regions. Serology is an alternative method for retrospectively tracking the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in such populations. Dry blood spots (DBS) were prepared from consenting patients attending six health facilities in Kajiado County from March 2020 to March 2022. Upon elution, we conducted an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of SARS-Cov-2 IgG antibodies. Of the 908 DBSs we analyzed, 706 (78%) were from female participants. The overall seropositivity to SARS-Cov-2 antibodies was 7.3% (95% CI 5.7-9.1). The elderly (over 60 years) and male participants had a high likelihood of testing positive for SAR-CoV-2 infections. Mashuru (15.6%, 14/90) and Meto (15%, 19/127) health facilities registered the highest proportion of seropositive participants. Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 transmission among pastoralists in the remote and underserved regions of Kajiado County was established by DBS sampling and serologic testing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zipporah Macharia
- Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (UNITID), University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Brian Ogoti
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- Center of Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Magdaline Otieno
- Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (UNITID), University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Pauline Gitonga
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Angela Bosco-Lauth
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Marybeth Maritim
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Aggrey Keya
- Kajiado County Referral Hospital, Kajiado Town, Kajiado, Kenya
| | - Joseph Sankok
- Kajiado County Referral Hospital, Kajiado Town, Kajiado, Kenya
| | - George Gitao
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Joshua Onono
- Department of Public Health Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Julius Oyugi
- Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (UNITID), University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Richard A. Bowen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Fisktjønmo GLH, Næss MW. Consequences of COVID-19 on the Reindeer Husbandry in Norway: a Pilot Study Among Management Staff and Herders. HUMAN ECOLOGY: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL 2022; 50:577-588. [PMID: 35530268 PMCID: PMC9059113 DOI: 10.1007/s10745-021-00295-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The outbreak of COVID-19 has had an enormous impact on most of society. The most effective measure to prevent the spread has been reducing mobility, which is especially problematic for pastoralists relying on mobility to follow the movement of their livestock. We investigated to what degree Norwegian reindeer husbandry and the reindeer husbandry management system are affected by COVID-19 and government restrictions to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. For reindeer herders, our main finding was that the COVID-19 had little to no impact on their daily work. However, impacts varied by domain, with work in corrals, income, and slaughter being negatively affected. For employees in the management system, communication/contact with herders and visits/control of corrals/slaughter have been negatively affected. Employees in the management system were satisfied with how information concerning COVID-19 and prevention measures have been communicated by the central government, while the herders were mainly dissatisfied. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10745-021-00295-0.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Marius Warg Næss
- Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU), Tromsø, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Griffith EF, Craige S, Manzano P, Pius L, Jost CC. Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security among East and West African pastoralists. ADVANCES IN FOOD SECURITY AND SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [PMCID: PMC8552633 DOI: 10.1016/bs.af2s.2021.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The focus of attention regarding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic has been on direct health outcomes and the macroeconomic impacts of control measures. Here we review the available evidence about the food security impacts of the pandemic on pastoralists in Eastern and Western Africa. While pastoralism occurs on more than 50% of the world's land area, the landscapes that pastoralists exploit tend to be remote and highly variable arid and semi-arid lands with low population densities. Over time pastoralists have developed sophisticated mechanisms to enhance their self-sufficiency. At the same time, remoteness and sociopolitical marginalization have resulted in higher rates of food insecurity and underdevelopment among pastoralists relative to more sedentary populations. These dynamics tend to be intractable to standardized food security, malnutrition, and economic development interventions. The COVID-19 pandemic is contributing to a worsening of food security trends in pastoralist areas of East and West Africa due to a multiplicity of factors, including the closure of livestock markets, movement restrictions, disruptions of supply chains and livestock production inputs, reduced frequency and quality of human and animal healthcare delivery, and lost income from complementary livelihoods. It opens, however, space for innovations that may contribute to the food-secure future of pastoralism, including adapting a One Health approach that addresses the social, economic, and environmental health determinants of food security among African pastoralists.
Collapse
|