Visit to the Lake Zone Regions by Researchers from the Pest Management Centre, SUA and the Africa Centre of Excellence for Innovative Rodent Pest Management and Biosensor Technology Development (ACE IRPM &BTD). Two researchers, Prof. Apia Massawe and Prof. Loth Mulungu made an extensive exploratory visit to regions surrounding Lake Victoria. This exploratory initial survey aimed to accomplish the following:
- Establish new areas for studying the ecology of rodents in the Lake zone
- Establish area s for biodiversity studies particularly focusing on the diversity and taxonomy of rodents in this zone
- Make a survey of natural, undisturbed areas (forest, woodlands, mountainous and lower altitude areas for landscape ecology studies
- Identify areas which are highly influenced by human activities (agriculture, pastoralism etc.) where there is likelihood of rodent outbreaks in order to establish the factors which cause the outbreaks
- Identify areas for studies on zoonotic diseases
According to Prof. Massawe the landscape ecology and the weather in some parts of Kagera region could be conducive for outbreaks of bubonic plague. Kagera region experience plague outbreaks over 100 years ago, and although plague has not been recorded in the region in the recent years it does not mean that the bacteria that causes plague , Yersinia pestis, is no longer circulating in the rodent population. It could still be present and if conditions like human rodent interaction increase and if climate change favours the rodents and fleas which are vectors of the bacteria, then the disease could re-emerge in the human population. Therefore it is necessary to establish these studies as a re-requisite for future interventions if the disease does occur.
Prof. Rhodes Makundi who coordinates research by students in the ACE IRPM &BTD m has indicated that all the targeted research in the Lake Zone regions will be conducted by MSc. and PhD students.. Already one PhD student bis studying community ecology of rodents in the Lake Zone area.
