Climate Change Will Reshape Malaria Prevalence Across Africa
A new study published in Nature indicates that climate change is causing a geographic shift in malaria prevalence across sub-Saharan Africa. While some regions are becoming too hot for mosquito transmission, others are seeing increased suitability for the parasite.
Why it matters
Understanding these shifting patterns is essential for public health officials to allocate resources and design effective malaria prevention strategies in a warming world.
The transmission of malaria —a parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes that affects about 250 million people globally each year—occurs between approximately 16°C (60.8°F) and 34°C (93.2°F) because of the life cycle of mosquitoes and the temperature sensitivity of the parasite they transmit.
That means a warming climate will affect where and how malaria spreads. However, scientists have been split on the question of how climate change has reshaped malaria prevalence in Africa: Some studies have suggested climate change is a substantial driver of shifting malaria prevalence, while others indicate climate change plays little or no role.
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