Climate change set to redraw Africa’s malaria map, study finds
A new study published in Nature suggests that climate change will shift the geographic range of malaria-carrying mosquitoes in Africa by 2050. While cooler regions in southern and eastern Africa may see increased transmission, some of the continent's hottest areas could become too inhospitable for the disease to persist.
Why it matters
This research highlights the complex and uneven impact of climate change on public health, necessitating adaptive strategies for disease control in vulnerable regions.
By 2050, rising temperatures are projected to expand the range of malaria-carrying mosquitoes into cooler parts of southern and eastern Africa.
Listen CAPE TOWN – Climate change is poised to expose more people to malaria in cooler parts of Africa by the end of the century, with cases potentially rising as much as 20 per cent in coastal southern Africa, according to a new study published in Nature.
By 2050, rising temperatures are projected to expand the range of malaria-carrying mosquitoes into cooler parts of southern and eastern Africa, increasing cases by about 5 per cent in the East African highlands – including parts of Kenya and Ethiopia – as well as in Angola, Zambia and eastern South Africa, the study found.
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