Dr. Henry Muriuki Kariithi

Dr. Henry Muriuki Kariithi is a molecular virologist with over 20 years of experience in veterinary and entomological sciences. His expertise includes metagenomics, epidemiology, and molecular diagnostics, focusing on viral pathogens affecting livestock, poultry, and insect vectors. He earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Virology from Wageningen University, where his research on Glossina hytrosavirus advanced sustainable tsetse fly rearing under sterile insect technique (SIT) programs. Dr. Kariithi has served as Chief Research Scientist at KALRO and held postdoctoral positions at USDA-ARS Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory and FAO/IAEA Laboratories in Austria. He has led metagenomic surveillance projects, advancing genomic characterization of avian viral pathogens across Africa, Latin America, and the IMETA region. As a consultant for Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, he focuses on epidemiological mapping and biosecurity in poultry systems. With over 45 peer-reviewed publications, book contributions, and active involvement in the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV), Dr. Kariithi has significantly advanced diagnostics, surveillance, and disease control strategies. Passionate about mentorship, he has supervised graduate students, lectured in molecular biology, and secured funding for impactful research. A member of AVMA and ICTV, Dr. Kariithi is dedicated to addressing global animal health challenges with innovative, science-driven solutions.