Epaphrus Yuko Okoth is an MSc Microbiology student from the University of Nairobi, who has been undertaking his MCs research project at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), supervised by Dr. Eunice Owino (UON), Dr. David Tchouassi (ICIPE) and Prof. Rosemary Sang (ICIPE/KEMRI). His research interests include arboviruses and arboviruses-vector interactions with laboratory prowess in cell culture, entomological and molecular biology techniques as well as data analysis.

Epaphrus’ MSc research topic was Laboratory assessment of vector competence of Phlebotomus duboscqi to a novel sandfly associated Phlebovirus. His study purposed to establish an understanding of the transmission ecology of the novel Phlebovirus, Ntepes virus (NPV) that has been described to be infectious to humans in the ecology of its isolation. His study established that P. duboscqi is an inefficient vector of NPV and provided a baseline for future vector competence studies on sandflies which will be important in establishing vector potentials of sandfly species for the entomological risk assessments of arboviruses transmission.

Epaphrus Yuko also has a Bachelors of Technology degree in Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology from Technical University of Mombasa.