Vol. 6, Issue 1, Part C (2024)

Background: Anopheles (An) gambiae and (An) funestus are the dominant vectors in Africa. These vectors inhibit at the rural area and as a result malaria was being restricted to the rural areas. Recently, (An) stephensi as a competent vector of both Plasmodium (p). vivax and P. falciparum appear to be better adapted in urban and peri-urban areas of East African countries. So far, An. Stephensi found to inhibit in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Somalia and further distributed in Nigeria and Kenya, since 2012. If the invasion of anopheles stephensi continue across the African continent, additional 126 million people from urban areas will be at risk of malaria infection. Gash Barka (GB) Region has shared a border with Ethiopia and Sudan (An. Stephensi prevalent areas). So the current surveillance aimed to ascertain the presence of An. Stephensi in GB region using morphological and molecular identification. 
Method: Cross sectional entomological survey was conducted during the period Sep. - Dec. 2022 in three towns of Gash Barka Region (Vis. Tesseney, Agurdet and Gulj) to assess the presence of An. Stephensi. 
Result: This is the first report in Eritrea to identify the invasive malaria vector An. Stephensi. Cement basin was the principal breeding habitat in the study site. It was accountable for more than 90% of the immature anopheles species. Other habitats include plastic/metal basin barrels, clay pots and overhead tanks were found with immature mosquitos. 
Conclusion: An. Stephensi co-exists with native vector species in the study sites. Further research is needed to determine its relative role in malaria transmission in the Region. Heath authorities need to revise the existing vector control strategies to target An. Stephensi alongside the native malaria vector species.