In Unity State, Bentiu Protection of Civilian camp (PoC) provides shelter to over 100,000 people who are at high risk of malaria especially during the rainy season when rates can triple. Entomological surveillance was conducted to accompany vector control measures; larviciding, indoor residual spraying and mass distribution of treated bednets. Unexpectedly, given the eastern African location the majority of samples collected (>80%) were characterised as Anopheles coluzzii, presenting the opportunity for further genomic investigation. This project aims to generate high-quality whole genome sequence data to study levels of gene flow, genetic diversity and population size changes, and to potentially identify markers for insecticide resistance at the edge of the known species range in comparison to other An. coluzzii populations sequenced as part of the Anopheles 1000 genomes project

Contributors

• Olivia Wetherill: The MENTOR Initiative, South Sudan
• Caroline Bower: The MENTOR Initiative, South Sudan
• Fatima Ahmed: The MENTOR Initiative, UK
• Sarah Wharton: The MENTOR Initiative, UK
• Valentina Buj: UNICEF, New York
• Harriet Pasquale: Ministry of Health, South Sudan
• Elizabeth Ivanovich: United Nations Foundation, Washington DC
• David Weetman: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK
• Richard Allan: The MENTOR Initiative, UK