Mapping inherited blood disorders in Kenya

From the global MAP-IBD data archive, gaps in our knowledge of the distribution of malaria related IBDs have become apparent. The MPHEG's engagement in national sample surveys of infection in Kenya and regionally will open opportunities to increase the standardized description of the spatial distribution of human malaria protective gene frequencies (HbS, Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, thalassemias and Duffy coat negativity). This will enable us to better articulate HbS homozygote disease burdens, provide an informed public health decision framework for novel deployment of new pro-oxidant drugs that have haemolytic adverse effects in G6PD deficient populations, examine hypotheses of FY*O homozygote prevalence and the likelihood of P. vivax parasite exposure in Kenya and the selective pressure of historical versus contemporary P. falciparum risk and population-based HbS gene frequency.