Climate Change and Its Impact on Rising Malaria Cases in Africa
Experts indicate that climate change is significantly increasing malaria cases in Africa, particularly in areas previously unaffected. Rising temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns are contributing to the proliferation of malaria-carrying mosquitoes. Experts warn that while climate factors are critical, human activities and resistance to treatments also play substantial roles in this public health crisis.
Climate change is increasingly impacting Africa, contributing to a rise in malaria cases and other mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever. Experts assert that escalating temperatures are severely straining public health systems. Notably, Dorothy Memusi, a researcher and former deputy director of Kenya’s malaria division, highlighted that climate change exacerbates the spread of diseases, enabling their emergence in previously unaffected regions.
Recent studies have demonstrated that areas like Kenya’s Rift Valley, which historically reported low malaria prevalence, are now experiencing an uptick in cases linked to subtle climatic shifts. Memusi articulated that even slight changes in climate can significantly alter the geography of tropical diseases: “The resurgence of malaria in the east African highlands has shown how small changes in climate can influence the geography of some tropical diseases.”
A World Health Organization report from December notes that climate change may lead to an alarming 550,000 additional malaria-related deaths in Africa between 2030 and 2049. Memusi also discussed the correlation between temperature increase and malaria transmission: at 18°C, the malaria parasite takes 51 days to mature, while a minor rise of two degrees can exponentially accelerate its development within mosquitoes.
Additionally, a joint study indicated that temperature variations significantly influence both malaria parasites’ development and mosquito survival rates. Increased rainfall, temperature, and humidity may facilitate the spread of malaria-carrying mosquitoes to higher altitudes, expanding transmissions into previously unaffected regions. Memusi states, “A rise in temperature, rainfall, and humidity is likely to cause a proliferation of malaria-carrying mosquitoes at higher altitudes.”
However, there is caution surrounding the quantification of climate change’s impact on malaria transmission, as other factors including population dynamics, human activities like deforestation, and resistance to insecticides may also play crucial roles. Willis Akhwale, a medical doctor and advisor to the Kenya End Malaria Council, emphasized that rising malaria cases, particularly in highland areas previously too cool for the disease, could also be attributed to increased drug resistance and inadequate pesticide use in mosquito habitats. He asserted the importance of continuous surveillance and preparedness as critical components of malaria control strategies, alongside timely diagnoses and effective treatments.
In conclusion, the intersection of climate change and malaria transmission presents a dire public health challenge in Africa, particularly in regions previously resistant to the disease. The research underscores the need for ongoing vigilance and the implementation of comprehensive malaria control strategies to counteract the exacerbating effects of environmental changes. Experts emphasize the importance of understanding both climatic and socio-economic impacts in addressing and mitigating the risk of rising malaria cases.
Original Source: www.chinadaily.com.cn
